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NFL suspends player following incident during the Colts Week 15 matchup with the Steelers

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Destin Adams | Last updated 12/18/23

Almost everything went right for the Indianapolis Colts during their Week 15 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

An area that certainly hurt the Colts in Week 15 and could also hurt them in Week 16 would be losing star WR Michael Pittman Jr. to a concussion.

As he took an ugly shot from Steelers safety, Damontae Kazee is suspended for the rest of the 2023 season.

The NFL is suspending Damontae Kazee for the remainder of the season and any possible playoff games for this hit on Michael Pittman Jr, per @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/6VZgiMh1fv
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 18, 2023

And the NFL has now taken action against Kazee and the hit.

Source: #Steelers DB Damontae Kazee is suspended the rest of the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 18, 2023

Kazee was thrown out of the Colts and Steelers Week 15 matchup immediately following his hit on Pittman Jr. The hit was seen as so egregious that little to no review was needed for the officiating crew to announce his ejection.

The NFL has taken action and suspended Kazee for the remainder of the 2023 season. The hit itself, as well as his long list of violations this season, played a factor in this decision. Before this incident, Kazee had been fined five times for unnecessary roughness violations.

Kazee's prior fines this season

Week 2: Unnecessary roughness, $11,806
Week 7: Unnecessary roughness, $11,806
Week 8: Unnecessary roughness, $11,806
Week 8: Unnecessary roughness, $11,806 (2 in same game)
Week 12: Unnecessary roughness, $11,806
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) December 18, 2023

On the Colts end, they will have to wait and see how Pittman Jr. progresses through the NFL's concussion protocol this week. He seemed in good spirits post-game, as he took to X (Twitter) to let fans know he would be okay.