Chargers' Derwin James, returning from suspension, intends to maintain his playing style but will adopt a lower approach.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Derwin James Jr., safety for the Los Angeles Chargers, returned to practice on Wednesday following a one-game suspension due to repeated infractions of playing rules. He expressed his intention to maintain his current playing style and voiced his disappointment regarding the NFL's ruling.

"No, it isn't going to change anything," James stated. "I will simply adjust by going lower. My approach will remain the same." He elaborated, "I will continue to play my game, but I will focus on making contact lower." James emphasized that his future strategy will involve targeting players below the point where they are holding the ball. "I refuse to keep incurring fines of 700,000 to 800,000 dollars," he remarked.

The NFL imposed the suspension on September 23 after James received a penalty for unnecessary roughness during a hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth in the third quarter of the Chargers' 20-10 defeat in Week 3. James is known for his physical style of play, characterized by impactful hits that halt opponents, yet this approach has led to considerable issues with the league. This incident marked the seventh time James has been penalized for unnecessary roughness in his career, placing him in a tie with Marshon Lattimore and Jordan Poyer for the second-most penalties in the NFL since 2018, just behind Xavier Woods, who has eight.

A former All-Pro, James contested the suspension, but it was upheld by hearing officer Derrick Brooks, who is appointed jointly by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. "They informed me of the violation and the rule I breached, and that was essentially the extent of it," James recounted regarding the hearing. "There was no discussion about how I could improve or the nature of the calls." In a letter included in the NFL's announcement, Jon Runyan, vice president of football operations, indicated that video evidence demonstrated James lowered his head during the hit, resulting in illegal and forceful helmet contact that could have been avoided.