The Steelers will face off against the Chargers in Week 10 on “Sunday Night Football.” Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t hold back his admiration for Los Angeles safety Derwin James Jr.
“He’s the straw that stirs the drink for them,” Tomlin said about James on Tuesday, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
Since he entered the league in 2018, James has established himself as one of the top safeties in the NFL. As of now, Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 25th-best safety this season.
Even though people don’t typically expect safeties to chase down the quarterback, James excels in this area. He recorded 10 pressures through the first nine games this season, the highest among all safeties.
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers must keep a close eye on James, both in coverage and when he tries to apply pressure.
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The Steelers delivered a solid performance on Sunday, defeating the Indianapolis Colts 27-20. They’ll look to carry that momentum into Los Angeles, in a game that could play a crucial role in determining playoff seeding.
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