Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall will not be playing in Week 17’s big road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Hall was suspended one game by the NFL after stepping on the injured leg of Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson. While Dotson’s injury was caused prior to that incident, the league deemed Hall’s actions were unnecessary and unsportsmanlike.
During the first quarter, Hall unnecessarily stepped on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson at the end of a play while he was on the ground,
violating Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8, which prohibits unnecessary roughness and Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to unsportsmanlike conduct, including “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
Hall most likely appealed the suspension on the grounds of saying his act was unintentional, and perhaps the case could’ve been built off of Hall appearing to have his right foot trapped underneath Dotson before taking his next step on Dodson’s leg.
With Hall out for the Panthers game, expect more of a workload for Boye Mafe, whose snap count rates had reduced in recent weeks, along with the usual workload (if not a tick more) from Uchenna Nwosu and DeMarcus Lawrence. While Connor O’Toole and Jared Ivey are also options in a pinch, neither rookie played much on defense when Hall missed the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans games with injuries.
