(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has been one of the only bright spots of the team this season, but they’ll now be without one of their starters for the rest of the year after the NFL suspended safety Damontae Kazee for the rest of the season, including any postseason games.
Kazee was ejected from Pittsburgh’s 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 after he launched himself at and collided with Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.’s head.
He was hit with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty for the sixth time this season while Pittman left the game with a concussion and didn’t return.
#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
This has been Kazee’s problem for his entire career.
The 30-year-old safety has been fined seven times over his career for helmet hits, not including the one he’ll undoubtedly receive for his Week 15 hit.
Kazee was also ejected in 2018 for making a helmet-to-helmet hit on then-Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton when he played for the Atlanta Falcons.
Kazee is gonna be ejected for this. Late hit, helmet to helmet pic.twitter.com/hxZf3vJvqQ
— social cancer (@SlopingGiraffe) September 16, 2018
His career fines – which include non-helmet-to-helmet hits – are up to $196,979 since 2018, per Spotrac.
The safety played four seasons for the Falcons and one season for the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 before he signed with the Steelers in each of the past two seasons.
Kazee missed three games in 2022 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
The suspension was deserved, but it comes at a great cost to the Steelers.
Pittsburgh is riding a three-game losing streak and needs to win out for a shot at the postseason.
Kazee had started nine games this season for the Steelers, who will now have to replace his production for the rest of the year.
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