The NFL suspended Hall for unnecessarily stepping on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson at the end of a play. Johnnie Izquierdo / Getty Images
The NFL suspended Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall for one game without pay for “an act of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct” in the team’s 38-37 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Hall stepped on Rams right guard Kevin Dotson while he was on the ground following a play with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter. According to a release from the league, Hall’s action violated the league’s unsportsmanlike conduct rules, which include “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
Dotson was carted off the field with an ankle injury and did not return. Hall was not flagged on the play.
Seattle (12-3), which owns the No. 1 seed in the NFC after Thursday’s win, will travel to face the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 28 in Week 17. Hall, who has the right to appeal his suspension, can rejoin the team on Dec. 29. Seattle has a road rematch with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18.
Hall is one of four outside linebackers in Seattle’s defensive rotation, along with Uchenna Nwosu, DeMarcus Lawrence and Boye Mafe. A third-year edge rusher, Hall has one sack and 10 quarterback hits this season. Losing him for a game will likely mean more playing time for backup defensive linemen Mike Morris, Rylie Mills and Connor O’Toole.
According to Over the Cap, Hall’s base salary is $1,578,692. The one-game suspension will cost him his game check of $87,705, assuming the discipline is not overturned on appeal.
