Oakland Raider’s linebacker Vontaze Burfict was initially suspended for the rest of the 2019 season for a helmet to helmet hit on Colt’s tight end Jack Doyle. After an appeal, the league announced that the decision is upheld.
Burfict was ejected in the second quarter of the Raider’s Week 4 win for hitting Doyle in the head across the middle. After the officials conferred, he was thrown out of the game, and later handed down the suspension by the league office.
Burfict will not be paid during the suspension, by far the biggest suspension the league has ever handed down for an on-field incident. He has been repeatedly suspended by the NFL in his time with the Bengals, most notably for hits on Antonio Brown and James Conner, and for violating enhancing drug policies.
Although the Raiders will try to appeal the suspension or get it reduced, they must plan ahead without Burfict. Tahir Whitehead played defensive play-caller as a middle linebacker in London and will probably keep playing the role as long as Burfict is out.
