The Los Angeles Rams were able to earn their first victory of the season in a dominating Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks. And Seahawks star D.K. Metcalf lost his cool down the stretch in the game, leading to a dirty hit that the NFL world took notice of.
Metcalf and the Seahawks found themselves trailing by 14 points late in the fourth quarter, and the writing appeared to be on the wall that the Rams were ultimately going to win this game.
The star receiver was obviously perturbed by his team’s performance in the game, and took it out on Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon.
The Seahawks ran a play to the opposite side of Metcalf, so neither Metcalf or Witherspoon were involved in the play. This didn’t stop Metcalf from laying a vicious blindside block on Witherspoon near the end of the play that most thought was a borderline dirty play.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was not pleased after this dirty hit from Seahawks star D.K Metcalf injured one of his players… Metcalf was flagged for taunting on the play. pic.twitter.com/XOTWBOd52a
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 10, 2023
The play left Witherspoon injured, and fans thought that it was completely unneccessary considering his team was down 14 points at the time.
D.K. Metcalf lays out Ahkello Witherspoon.
Emotions boiling over after a frustrating game for the #Seahawks. pic.twitter.com/vKGB5IS6Wf
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) September 10, 2023
Wow, stay classless and trashy D.K. Metcalf.
— Brian (@MaybeBrianKuhn) September 10, 2023
I do not approve of what D.K. Metcalf just did.
— tom is nearing the end of my biggest project. blm. (@tomabernathy) September 10, 2023
I love D.K. Metcalf but his attitude is garbage.
— SadPanda (@tismeechristine) September 10, 2023
This was a Dirty, dirty move by DK Metcalf.
Way away from the play aswell, the defender stayed down for awhile.pic.twitter.com/GfKhtaEAus
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 10, 2023
DK Metcalf just randomly shoved Ahkello Witherspoon from behind.
He eventually got hit with a taunting.pic.twitter.com/LRtyulWlMU
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 10, 2023
Metcalf was flagged for taunting on the play, but truthfully it could have resulted in far worse if Witherspoon had gotten up and escalated the situation.
It is obviously never fun to be losing a game in the NFL, but this type of activity from Metcalf has been a trend in his young career.
He was notably issued personal fouls on multiple occasions last season for overaggresive and unneccessary plays that have hurt his team as a result.
Metcalf will need to get his emotions in check moving forward before he develops a reputations as a dirty player amongst his peers in the league.
