Tre’von Moehrig’s postgame scuffle with Jauan Jennings is going to cost him.
The NFL suspended the Carolina Panthers safety one game for what it called an “act of unsportsmanlike conduct” after their 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night. Moehrig will now miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
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It is unclear if Jennings will face any discipline. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jennings is being evaluated for a potential fine for his actions in the incident. Moehrig is appealing his suspension.
Jennings walked up to Moehrig after the game on Monday and hit him in the face twice before the two were separated. Moehrig immediately started clapping as Jennings was walked away from the scuffle, clearly excited and taunting him. At one point, several 49ers staffers actually brought Jennings to the ground trying to hold him back.
“I was just responding to, to me, childish behavior,” Jennings said after the game. “That’s all it was.”
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Jennings was referring to an incident near the end of the game, where Moehrig drilled him in the crotch with a cheap shot.
“The guy took a cheap shot and hit him in the balls,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. “I was real proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there.”
Moehrig, the NFL said, violated a rule after he committed an “act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” which include “throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent.”
Jennings had 41 yards and a touchdown on five catches in Monday night’s win, which pushed the team to 8-4 on the season. He’s up to 419 yards and four touchdowns this season, his fifth in the league. Moehrig had eight total tackles in the loss for Carolina. Moehrig has 81 total tackles and a single interception this season, his fifth in the league. He signed a three-year, $51 million deal to join the Panthers this past offseason.
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The incident was similar to what happened between Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster earlier this season. Branch struck Smith-Schuster in the face, and was then suspended for a game.
Assuming he loses his appeal, Moehrig will be eligible to return for the Panthers’ game against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 14.
