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DK Metcalf sidesteps questions about incident with Lions fan

Originally posted on NFL on ClutchPoints
By Mike Gianakos, ClutchPoints | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 12:55 AM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers held on for a wild 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the regular season finale. Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes came down to the do-or-die divisional matchup. With the victory, the Steelers clinched the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

Pittsburgh salvaged the season after DK Metcalf was suspended for the final two games of the year. The veteran wideout received a two-game ban for an altercation with a fan during Week 16’s win over the Detroit Lions. Metcalf’s suspension was upheld after an appeal.

The seventh-year pro is ready to return for the first round of the playoffs. But the incident has raised a number of questions. Unfortunately, Metcalf isn’t providing any answers. “Steelers WR DK Metcalf repeatedly declined to comment when asked any questions about the incident with the fan in Detroit that got him suspended for 2 games,” the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Chris Adamski wrote.

DK Metcalf rejoins Steelers after two-game suspension

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Metcalf was persistently questioned about the altercation during a press conference on Monday. But he refused to discuss the subject. “For the fifth time, I can’t say nothing about that,” he told reporters, according to Adamski.

After the incident, conflicting reports surfaced. One version of events has the fan using Metcalf’s full name to trigger the wideout. Another claims a racial slur was used, although the fan denies saying anything hateful.

Additionally, it seems that Metcalf and the fan have a history dating back to the receiver’s time with the Seattle Seahawks. A security memo between the Lions and the Seahawks details a previous interaction between the two, according to Jay Glazer. Pittsburgh, however, was not made aware of the situation.

The Steelers struggled without Metcalf on the field. The team could only score six points in Week 17’s loss to the Cleveland Browns, setting up a winner-take-all matchup in the finale. But Pittsburgh emerged with the win on Sunday after Tyler Loop missed what would have been the game-winning field goal as time expired.

Metcalf will rejoin the Steelers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Pittsburgh hosts the No. 5 seed Houston Texans on Monday night.

This article first appeared on NFL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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