Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr.‘s suspension has been upheld by the NFL. The decision was made by hearing officer Derrick Brooks, who was jointly appointed by the league and the players’ union.

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without star safety Derwin James when they host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. On Monday evening, the NFL announced that James has been suspended without pay for one game for "repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.

The NFL handed James a one-game suspension Monday night for repeatedly breaking player safety rules, last exhibited during the Chargers' 20–10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the third quarter of that game at Acrisure Stadium, James made helmet-to-helmet contact with Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth while trying to bring him down.