Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf swung at a Lions fan’s head during an in-game altercation just before halftime of Sunday’s game in Detroit at Ford Field.
It’s not initially clear what sparked the altercation. CBS cameras captured Metcalf clearly taking a swing at the fan and appearing to make contact.
Advertisement
The incident happened late in the the second quarter as the Lions’ offense was on the field. Metcalf got into an exchange with a fan wearing Lions colors in the first row of the stands. Metcalf stood with his hand balled in a fist as the two appeared to exchange words. Metcalf then swung at the fan and appeared to make a glancing blow with the fan’s head before walking away.
Per the Lions, via the Detroit Free Press, the fan was ejected from the game. The NFL, meanwhile, released a statement that it cannot intervene for an ejection of Metcalf during the game.
“There was no flag on the field, so New York cannot weigh in with regard to a potential disqualification,” the NFL statement reads, per the Free Press.
Advertisement
Officials didn’t appear to see the incident. Metcalf took the field with the Steelers on their next offensive possession.
Rules analyst Gene Steratore weighed in on the incident on the CBS broadcast.
“On this situation, because the officials did not see this, and you wouldn’t expect them to there where DK Metcalf was, it’s not something they can weigh into from an officiating standpoint,” Steratore said.
“I have been notified though, that that will be delivered to compliance with the NFL, and they’ll address it at that point.”
Metcalf can surely expect discipline from the league.