Update: Davis has appealed the suspension and the NFL has reduced it to one game. Davis will be eligible to return for the season finale in Atlanta; with the reduced number, Davis will only lose out on a $238,051.47 paycheck this week against Tampa Bay.
The NFL announced Monday that linebacker Thomas Davis has been suspended two games without pay for his peelback helmet-to-helmet block on Davante Adams that occurred in the third quarter of Sunday’s 31-24 win over the Green Bay Packers as Colin Jones was returning the Panthers’ second interception of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“During an interception return, you took a path toward your opponent who was pursuing the play and delivered a violent and unnecessary blindside block to his head and neck area,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan explained in a letter sent to Davis Monday. “You have been previously fined for violations of safety-related rules. Your actions (Sunday) warrant an escalation of discipline, not only because they were flagrant, but also because of your status as a repeat offender.”
Davis is expected to appeal the decision, which may shorten the suspension to one game; if the suspension is upheld, Davis will miss this week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the season finale in Atlanta, but would be eligible for any theoretical playoff games should the Panthers qualify for the postseason.
The block, which Davis apologized on Twitter during an exchange with Adams, left the wide receiver in the concussion protocol for the second time this season.
I understand your frustration and I do apologize for the hit! In no way was I trying to hurt you. My first instinct was turn and make a block. In all sincerity I do apologize. I truly respect you as a player and I made a mistake!
— Thomas Davis (@ThomasDavisSDTM) December 18, 2017
“I think you really have to look at the person. We know Thomas is a class act,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said on Monday as he defended Davis, who has been fined three times since 2013 for violent hits. “The emphasis there was when you get an interception you really try to set the wall. We put a lot of emphasis on trying to score on defense. I don’t think it was anything malicious that Thomas was trying to do. I think he just got caught up in where he hit the guy.”
Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan was suspended for two games earlier this season for a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit on Adams as the wideout was being tackled by a teammate; that suspension was appealed and reduced to one game.
Was Danny Trevathan’s hit on Davante Adams the dirtiest hit of the decade? https://t.co/ERlCbeFFpx pic.twitter.com/bdtyXksmep
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) September 29, 2017
“If you see Thomas’ reaction to realizing the hit that he made, you know that it wasn’t intentional to hit him that way. It was intentional he wanted to block him,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “I just take it from the way he reacted he did not intend to hit him high or in the head.”
Davis stands to lose $476,102.94 if the suspension is upheld.
