Eshaun Watson will not face suspension after making contact with an official during the Cleveland Browns’ 26-22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Watson assaulted a referee during the second half while protesting a facemask call, and he appeared to yell at Steelers receiver George Pickens. On Tuesday, the league confirmed that Watson would not face any fines or suspensions for the incident.
“Officials are responsible for maintaining order on the pitch, and there may be unintended contact between players and officials while fulfilling those tasks. “In this instance, in their opinion, the contact did not rise to the level of a foul,” a league release stated.
It’s safe to say that Watson dodged a bullet. While there was no malice behind the push, there is often a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to touch with an official.Per the NFL’s rulebook:
“Inappropriate physical contact with a game official. Under no circumstances may a player shove, push, or strike an official in an impolite, disrespectful, or unsportsmanlike manner. The player will be disqualified from the game, and any such actions must be reported to the Commissioner.”
The Browns cannot afford to be without Watson for an extended period of time after losing standout running back Nick Chubb for the season.
Watson may face a fine for two facemask penalties, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL.
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