Panthers' Thomas Davis suspended 2 games for hit on Packers' Davante Adams
The Carolina Panthers are likely to be without one of their defensive and emotional leaders for the rest of the regular season.
Linebacker Thomas Davis was suspended two games on Monday for a blindside block on Davante Adams that left the Green Bay Packers wide receiver with a concussion.
NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Davis that the linebacker had violated player safety rules. Davis was penalized as a repeat offender after being fined $48,620 for a hit on Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Adam Humphires.
“During an interception return, you took a path toward your opponent who was pursuing the play and delivered a violent and unnecessary blindside block to his head and neck area,” Runyan wrote. “You have been previously fined for violations of safety-related rules. Your actions yesterday warrant an escalation of discipline, not only because they were flagrant, but also because of your status as a repeat offender.”
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Earlier in the day, Adams railed against Davis on Twitter for the hit, though the linebacker later apologized.
If he does not successfully appeal the ban, Davis would miss the final two regular-season contests against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.
At 10-4, the Panthers are currently tied for first in the NFC South and sit in the first wild-card spot.