Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans watches during the first half of an NFL game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman suspended three games for hit
The NFL suspended Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman for three games without pay for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Sunday’s win over the Bengals.
The league said Perryman has violated its rules on multiple occasions in his career, including a hit with 4:07 left in the fourth quarter at Cincinnati.
The hit occurred when the Bengals were trying into cut the Texans’ 10-point lead. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a 16-yard pass. Chase slipped, and as he was falling to the ground, Perryman attempted to tackle him but made contact with the upper part of his body.
The officials threw a flag. Perryman and his teammates threw their hands up in bewilderment.
“With 4:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, you were involved in a play that the league considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” the league wrote in a letter to Perryman. “You lowered your head and delivered a forcible blow to the shoulder and then the head/neck area of the receiver. You had unobstructed path to your opponent, and the illegal contact could have been avoided.”
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension and noted that Perryman has had multiple offenses for personal fouls of this type — six violations — throughout his career, including in Week 2 against Indianapolis, after which he was fined for a violation of the same rule.
“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,” Runyan wrote.
Perryman is expected to appeal the suspension. He would lose $358,823 of 2023 salary and per game active bonus for the suspension, according to Spotrac.
This is the second such suspension that the NFL has levied against a player for a hit this season. The NFL suspended Broncos safety Kareem Jackson for four games after he was ejected for the second time this season for violating the league’s rules. Jackson launched helmet first at Washington’s Logan Thomas on Sept. 17, then again at Green Bay’s Luke Musgrave on Oct. 22. Jackson appealed and had his suspension reduced to two games.
After his first offense this season, Perryman was fined $66,666 for using the crown of his helmet in an attempt to make a tackle on Colts running back Zack Moss. That played a part in his three-game suspension.
Though all cases are subjective, Jackson’s reduced penalty could mean Perryman’s suspension might be lessened upon appeal.
Regardless, it’ll be a big blow for the Texans, who are currently thin at linebacker. Rookie linebacker Henry To’oTo’o remains in concussion protocol after missing last week’s game. It is unclear when he could return.
If Perryman’s suspension stands, the earliest he could return is Dec. 10 against the Jets. He would miss their next three games — all at home — against the Cardinals, Broncos and Jaguars.
A Texans spokesperson said the team would not comment on the matter but added that coach DeMeco Ryans would address it at his weekly press conference Wednesday. However, Ryans did speak with Pat McAfee on an appearance on his television show.
“I’ve spoken with Denzel,” Ryans said.“Tough conversation, and he knows it. We hate to lose a good player; he’s a starting linebacker for us. We’ll just let the process play out. It’s real hard news to hear, but we’ll have our young guys stepping up, ready to go.”
Former Texans star J.J. Watt was among those to defend Perryman on social media after the NFL announced the suspension.
“He’s played in the league 8 years! 6 penalties in 102 games means you deserve to be suspended 3 games without pay?” Watt posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
