"Derwin's a big personality," said safety Alohi Gilman, whose laid-back Hawaiian nature contrasts sharply with James' fiery passion. "For me, I don't really look at it as replacing him. I just be the best that I can be, and bring whatever energy that I got and my type of game to the table, and just got to elevate it a little bit more."
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh expressed disappointment about the suspension, saying there were "mitigating circumstances" on the particular hit. Harbaugh said he thought Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had changed direction after catching the ball, which meant he was not defenseless, and tried to stiff-arm James' helmet, which Harbaugh believed caused James to make helmet-to-helmet contact.
James, who has drawn five unnecessary roughness flags since the beginning of the 2023 season, reached out to league officials during the offseason for guidance on how best to avoid the penalties.
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