There’s been a minor change in Damontae Kazee’s suspension, which was handed down on Monday. The original sentence was for the safety to be suspended for the remainder of the 2023 season, including playoffs. While hearing officer James Thrash upheld it, he’s now eligible to return to the active roster for the playoffs. Only one problem: the Pittsburgh Steelers’ chances of making it to the postseason currently stand at 3%, according to the New York Times.
Yeah, thanks.
Kazee’s suspension stems from an illegal hit of defenseless Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman, Jr., for which he was ejected. The NFL’s statement specified Kazee repeatedly violated “playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.”
The seven-year veteran has been fined four times by the league this season for similar violations and will forfeit an estimated $208,000 in game checks by missing Pittsburgh’s final three games.
Hearing officer James Thrash, jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, has upheld the suspension of Damontae Kazee for the remainder of the regular season. Thrash also ruled that Kazee would be eligible to return to the active roster for the playoffs, should the club qualify.
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) December 21, 2023
