Saturday’s matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers featured a reckless hit from Steelers starting safety Damontae Kazee that resulted in his ejection. And now the NFL has chosen to issue Kazee some huge disciplinary actions that will impact the Steelers for the rest of the season.
Kazee was ejected from Saturday’s game after Kazee laid a hit on Colts star wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. This play left Pittman severely compromised, ultimately leaving the game with a concussion.
A brutal hit to the head of Colts star WR Michael Pittman Jr. results in Steelers safety Damontae Kazee being ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/LgbStMlCbu
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 16, 2023
It is certainly one of the most dangerous hits on a receiver we have seen all season due to Pittman being completely airborne on the play. And the NFL seems to realize this, disciplining Kazee harshly for this play.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted a press release from the NFL to Kazee on Monday, stating that Kazee is being issued a season-long suspension for “repeated violations of player rules intended to protect the health and safety of players”. This also includes any postseason games the Steelers may play in should they reach the postseason.
The announcement on the season-long suspension of Steelers’ safety Damontae Kazee: pic.twitter.com/TFjslvhGgp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 18, 2023
Fans weighed in on this decision on social media. Some believed that this was a bit of an overreaction from the league, while others agreed with the suspension.
This is insane. #Steelers https://t.co/9TN3Y1NgFt
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) December 18, 2023
We are holding Steelers players accountable now!?!? Is this a new NFL??? https://t.co/Ai2JsADZVN
— Big Ed (Wes Miller Fan Club President) (@2ChinzCinci) December 18, 2023
They need to start suspending these quarterbacks for throwing these hospital balls https://t.co/nBaM1mw6Nc
— Stan Becton (@stan_becton) December 18, 2023
Wtf? I’m all for player safety but this was 100% caused by Minshew slinging hospital balls all over the field. It wasn’t 1 throw. About 5 or 6 of them. Do better NFL! https://t.co/sEgJfNGPlV
— Nole91 (@TheRealNole91) December 18, 2023
GOOD!!! Get that dirty Steeler out of the league https://t.co/sJQjSPaOBh
— Nick Paulus (@NickPaulus) December 18, 2023
To be fair to Kazee, there wasn’t much he could have actually done in this most recent situation considering the way that Pittman laid out for the ball.
If anything, like some on social media have said, this play was due to Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew throwing a pass late over the middle of the field and putting his receiver in an incredibly tough spot.
However, Kazee is a repeat offender, and it states in the suspension statement that this decision was made due to several different incidents, not just this most recent one. Kazee has been fined five times already by the NFL this season alone for unnecessary roughness calls.
#Steelers safety Damontae Kazee had already been fined five times for unnecessary roughness this season for a total of $59,030.
Then this hit on Michael Pittman came on Saturday, and the NFL now wants him out of the league for the rest of the season.pic.twitter.com/vU3oQS8wUB https://t.co/MaPvGgBD1a
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 18, 2023
Regardless, this will be a massive loss to the Steelers’ defense as they look to fight for a potential postseason birth in the uber-competitive AFC.
Kazee has been on the field for 81 percent of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps this season, recording 61 total tackles with three passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in 14 games on the year.
