NFL Suspends Chargers LB Perryman for Two Games

The National Football League suspended Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman for two games without pay on Monday, citing repeated violations of player safety rules stemming from an unnecessary roughness penalty during the team's 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The infraction occurred in the second quarter when Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy caught a short pass near the sideline and fell to the ground untouched. As Perryman pursued, he delivered a forcible blow with his helmet to Flournoy's helmet while the receiver was down, prompting officials to flag him for unnecessary roughness. The league's announcement specified that the hit violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10b, which prohibits using any part of the helmet or facemask to butt or make forcible contact with an opponent's head or neck area. This action, combined with Perryman's history of similar infractions, led to the suspension for the final two weeks of the regular season.

Perryman, a 10-year veteran entering his second stint with the Chargers, plans to appeal the decision. The appeal would be heard by one of the NFL and NFL Players Association's jointly appointed officers, such as...