Oakland Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a season-long suspension for the hit that led to his ejection from Sunday’s 31-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, according to a report.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Monday that Burfict could be banned for the rest of the 2019 season for his helmet-to-helmet hit on tight end Jack Doyle, who was on one knee near midfield after catching a 5-yard pass with 11:34 left in the second quarter.
Burfict’s prior history is a significant factor in the length of the suspension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
The suspension could be levied Monday, per Schefter.
Burfict has amassed more than $4 million in on-field conduct fines during a turbulent seven-year stretch with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2012-18.
The 29-year-old Burfict was suspended by the NFL to start both the 2016 and 2017 seasons for violation of player-safety policies, and again in 2018 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
“It’s a tough decision, it’s a tough call. I think it was a flag,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said of the play in question on Sunday. “It was very well-documented that the league was going to review those plays this year in New York City. So, that’s what happened and I’ll wait to hear what their reasoning was. But it was a penalty, he went in there with his head down, it was called and, unfortunately for us, it was an ejection.”
Burfict has recorded 18 tackles in four games with the Raiders since signing a one-year, $5 million contract in March.
