Derwin James was suspended for this past Sunday’s game against the Chiefs for repeated violations of the playing rules.
The hard-hitting safety returned to practice Wednesday and said that the punishment he received would not force him to change his playing style.
“No, it ain’t going to change s**,” James said, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “It’s definitely not going to change nothing. Like I said, I’m just going to go lower. I’m not going to change.”
James will focus on hitting players underneath where they are holding the ball.
“I’m not going to keep paying 700, 800 thousand [dollars],” James added.
James was hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty and suspension for a hit he made on Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth in Week 3. He appealed the suspension, but hearing officer Derrick Brooks upheld it.
James has five unnecessary roughness penalties in his past 18 games, the most by a defensive player in that time span. All were to the head with his shoulder or helmet.
James will return to the playing field in Week 5 when the Chargers travel to Denver to face the Broncos.
In three games, James has 21 tackles and a sack.