The NFL announced on Monday that they have suspended Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee for the rest of the 2023 season, including the postseason, for repeated violations of its health and safety rules.
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan said in a news release: “When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties.”
Kazee’s latest incident occurred in the second quarter of the Steelers game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in Indianapolis, when the wide receiver lowered his head and hit Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., delivering a strong blow to his head/neck area. The seven-year veteran was then given a penalty for unnecessary roughness and ejected from the game, while Pittman entered the concussion protocol as a result, and was unable to return to the game.
While Kazee is able to appeal the suspension, he will miss upcoming games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. Kazoo totaled 61 combined tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 14 appearances this season. He totaled 332 combined tackles, 22 passes defensed, 16 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 92 career appearances.
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