The NFL has suspended San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw for one game without pay after he head-butted Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet, during the 49ers’ 32-29 win in Seattle.
The league announced the ban on Monday (US time). Barring a successful appeal, Greenlaw will miss San Francisco’s Week 6 game against the Washington Commanders on Monday, October 19 (US time) and will be eligible to return to the active roster the following day, NFL.com reported.
Greenlaw is appealing the suspension, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, and sources also told ESPN the linebacker would appeal.
The incident came in the second quarter, with 6:30 left in the first half, when Greenlaw hit quarterback Sam Darnold late after Darnold had stepped out of bounds near Seattle’s sideline. Several Seahawks confronted Greenlaw, who then head-butted Jones. NFL.com reported Jones was bleeding after the contact, and Greenlaw was ejected.
What the NFL said
“During the second quarter, Greenlaw used his helmet to headbutt Seattle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who was not wearing a helmet, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’” the league said in a statement.
Read more: 49ers Beat Seahawks 32-29; Broncos and Lions Win
Under the collective bargaining agreement, any appeal would be heard by one of Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera or James Thrash, according to the NFL, ESPN reported.
‘He knows he’s got to be smarter’
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game he had not yet spoken to Greenlaw about the incident. “We just celebrated there,” Shanahan said, according to ESPN. “We’ll clean that stuff up. He knows he’s got to be smarter.”
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Linebacker Fred Warner said he saw the flashpoint from across the field but could not reach Greenlaw in time.
“I tried to get there as fast as I could,” Warner said. “I was too far away. He’s helpless in that situation. He’s all by himself on their sideline. Of course, they’re trying to gang up on him and good on them for baiting him into doing something. But we know we got to be smart in all those situations … It’s just an unfortunate situation.”
Rookie Jaden Dugger moved across to Greenlaw’s weakside linebacker spot and finished with nine tackles and a sack as the 49ers held on.
Second ban in as many seasons
It is Greenlaw’s second one-game suspension in as many years. Playing for the Denver Broncos last season, he was suspended for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct towards referee Brad Allen, ESPN reported. He has also been ejected at least twice before, in 2022 for a hit on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and in 2023 after a sideline altercation in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 29-year-old was fined $11,941 for taunting the Broncos’ sideline in a win a week earlier, according to NFL.com. He returned to San Francisco this season after one year in Denver and has 37 tackles in five games.
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