The NFL suspended Los Angeles Chargers S Derwin James this week after his illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth on Sunday. While the Freiermuth hit precipitated the suspension, the NFL suspended James as a repeat offender. His head coach, Jim Harbaugh, strongly defended him on Wednesday when addressing the suspension, and the hit, blaming Freiermuth.
“There was not a defenseless player, changed his course, and I thought that Derwin’s helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth”, Harbaugh said of James’ illegal hit against the Steelers, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.