The Raiders will be without veteran linebacker Vontaze Burfict for the rest of 2019.
The NFL suspended Burfict for the remainder of the season without pay Monday, one day after he was ejected from the Raiders' 31-24 win over the Colts for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis tight end Jack Doyle.
The NFL has suspended Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict for the remainder of this season.
— Scott Bair (@BairNBCS) September 30, 2019
Below is a statement from NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan on the decision.
Here is the official announcement on #Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict, who is suspended without pay for the rest of 2019. Jon Runyan wrote: “There were no mitigating circumstances on this play.” pic.twitter.com/DdoXyTb5ax
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2019
ESPN's Chris Mortensen first reported Monday that Burfict was facing a season-long suspension.
Vontaze Burfict is facing a season-long suspension for his late conduct on field, per source.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 30, 2019
The season-long suspension will be the 13th time the eight-year pro either has been fined or suspended, but NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Burfict plans to appeal his latest ban.
Vontaze Burfict will appeal, per his agent Lamont Smith. Traditionally, the hearings have been on Tuesdays. https://t.co/YtuoSZqWA3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2019
Following yesterday's win over Indianapolis, Raiders coach Jon Gruden was upset about Burfict's ejection, especially because it was made by officials away from the field.
"I know [officials in] New York City pulled the ejection, so you’d have to ask New York -- whoever is in the room that made that decision," Gruden said. "I think it was penalized multiple times by multiple referees today. Nobody on the field in our stadium or in this zip code made the call to eject him. That came from New York City, so what can I do? I don't have a cell phone on the field."
You can bet that Gruden is even more upset now that his captain out for the rest of the season.
The Raiders' next game is Sunday against the Bears in London.