49ers' Dre Greenlaw suspended by NFL after head-butting Seahawks player

2 weeks ago 18

The San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 in a narrow victory, but in the win, they saw one of their key defensive players leave early, and it wasn't due to an injury.

During the second quarter, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, back with the 49ers after a disappointing season with the Denver Broncos, was on the sideline and head-butted Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Notably, Jones didn't have a helmet on.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the NFL is suspending Greenlaw for one game for this act, as his mental error on the sidelines will cost Greenlaw a game check and a week on the field.

Dre Greenlaw suspended by NFL after head-butting Seahawks player

"49ers Dre Greenlaw, who was ejected from Sunday's game against the Seahawks, has been suspended one game," Rapoport reports. "Greenlaw head-butted Ernest Jones IV."

What led to this suspension was that Greenlaw head-butted a helmet-less player. If he did it to a player with a helmet on, he'd likely receive a punishment from the NFL, but maybe not as harsh as this one-game suspension.

Greenlaw can appeal this suspension, but considering the head-butt went viral and was very clear, it's going to be hard to have it successfully appealed to avoid a suspension.

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The 49ers' linebacker will miss one week and have his game check tossed because of it. It's a big mistake for the 49ers' veteran heading into Week 6.

As of now, Greenlaw is slated to miss the 49ers' Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders after being suspended by the NFL for head-butting a helmet-less Seahawks player on the sideline in Week 5.

The 5-0 49ers are likely to face Jayden Daniels and the Commanders without Greenlaw, forcing Garrett Wallow and others into a much more prominent role this upcoming week, so long as an appeal doesn't succeed.