PITTSBURGH, PA — The NFL has suspended Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee for the rest of the season and any potential postseason games for a hit Saturday to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Kazee was ejected in the second quarter of Saturday’s game after a hit in which the safety launched himself into Pittman’s head and neck area.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension and cited Kazee’s repeated violations of on-field health and safety rules, according to an NFL release. “With 8:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote in a letter to Kazee regarding the suspension.
“The video of the play shows that you delivered a forcible blow to the head an neck area of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a defenseless posture. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your actions were flagrant, and as a result, you were disqualified from the game.”
Added Runyan: “When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties.” Kazee has appeared in all 14 games for the Steelers this season, including nine starts. He has generated 61 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
Kazee is slated to miss regular-season games against the Bengals, Seahawks, and Ravens before any potential playoff absence. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Kazee has the right to
appeal the suspension.
