Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf’s swipe at a fan during Sunday’s 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions will cost him the rest of the regular season.
On Monday, the league announced it had suspended Metcalf two games, meaning he won’t be eligible to return until the week of the wild-card round. The Steelers (9-6) currently have a two-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (7-8) in the AFC North and play the Ravens in Week 18.
Pittsburgh can clinch the division with a win in either of its last two games or a Ravens loss, but the former becomes more difficult with Metcalf sidelined.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf suspended two games for fan altercation
Metcalf plans to appeal the suspension, although the NFL rarely backtracks on initial punishment rulings. In announcing Metcalf’s suspension, the league wrote, “Metcalf’s actions violate league policy, which specifies that ‘players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day.’
“‘If a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues,'” the statement continues, “‘he will be held accountable.'”
