Running back David Montgomery was added to the Lions’ injury report on Tuesday.
Montgomery did not participate in practice due to an illness. The Lions will issue injury designations for their Christmas game against the Vikings on Wednesday.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) and left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) were listed as limited participants after being listed as out of Monday’s practice. Safety Avonte Maddox (back, illness) remained out of practice.
Offensive lineman Trystan Colon (wrist), defensive end Marcus Davenport (shoulder), center Graham Glasgow (knee), wide receiver Tom Kennedy (abdomen), offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (knee), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), defensive lineman Alim McNeil (abdomen), defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee), and defensive back Amik Robertson (knee) all remained in the limited category on Tuesday.
Lions Clips
With J.J. McCarthy out for at least this week, the Vikings have added some depth at quarterback to their 53-man roster.
Minnesota has claimed Brett Rypien off of waivers, the team announced on Tuesday.
Rypien was recently released by the Colts. He previously spent time with the Vikings in 2024 and was with the club through the offseason and training camp this year. He did not appear in a regular-season game for the Vikings.
In 11 appearances with four starts, Rypien has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 950 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Vikings signing a quarterback to the 53-man roster suggests McCarthy may not be able to return for Week 18. But Minnesota has not announced a subsequent roster move with McCarthy after head coach Kevin O’Connell ruled him out for Thursday’s matchup with the Lions earlier in the day.
During Tuesday’s press conference with reporters, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked a fairly clear question as to whether the organization has a protocol in place to keep players from approaching fans during games.
The answer initially was not clear: “Exactly.”
“So is that a yes or a no?” the reporter said. “Do you have protocols or not?”
“We certainly may, but I might not be privy to it, because my eyes and attention is what’s going on on the field,” Tomlin said. “But we have a top-notch security group, etc. Everybody in the National Football League does. It’s not only from an organization’s perspective, but it’s a global component to it as well.”
The first part of the answer is telling. “Certainly may” is absolutely a way of saying, “I don’t know.”
He assumes they do. The video of the interaction suggests otherwise, given that no one stopped Metcalf from walking to the stands and grabbing the fan’s T-shirt.
On Tuesday’s PFT Live, former Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty said the franchise for which he played always had personnel behind the sideline to prevent interactions initiated by fans. It’s unknown whether every team has that.
If the Steelers do — and they “certainly may” — it certainly did not work on Sunday in Detroit.
And if there’s a “global” component that the league has put in place, that didn’t work on Sunday, either. The conclusive proof is the incident that occurred.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not play against the Lions on Christmas due to a right hand injury.
X-rays taken of the hand after McCarthy was injured in last Sunday’s win over the Giants came back negative, but head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Tuesday that further imaging on the injury showed that McCarthy suffered a hairline fracture. He has been ruled out for Thursday and rookie Max Brosmer will make his second start of the season.
O’Connell said that McCarthy will not be placed on injured reserve and the team will evaluate his status for Week 18 after Thursday’s game.
The Lions game will be the seventh that McCarthy has missed this season. He missed six games after injuring his ankle in September and missed a game last month with a concussion.
After Sunday’s win over the Lions, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said nothing about receiver DK Metcalf’s interaction with a fan. On Tuesday, one day after the NFL suspended Metcalf for two games, Tomlin addressed it. A bit.
“He did explain to me why he did what he did, and I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK. And I really don’t have a lot to add other than what I just told you,” Tomlin told reporters at his midweek press conference.
Tomlin also declined to address the specifics about the information Metcalf shared, including whether the fan used a slur toward Metcalf.
“I think he has a hearing this afternoon — an appeals hearing, and I certainly don’t want to weigh in prior to that, and certainly I’ve heard more recently that there might be legal ramifications, and so I better be careful about what I say and how I say it. I’m sure you guys got a lot of questions. I understand that, but that’s just a posture I’m in as I sit here today with so many components of this thing yet to be resolved.”
Tomlin later was asked if the team prepares players to deal with potentially “volatile rhetoric” in stadiums.
“You know, I just think volatile rhetoric is a component of our business today, unfortunately,” Tomlin said. “It just is. But not only our business — college, you know, youth-sport parents . . . I think it’s just a component of sport that’s developed and developed in a big way in recent years, and it’s unfortunate. But, really, I have nothing to say about the matter other than that.”
Asked about his reference to potential “legal ramifications,” Tomlin did not elaborate.
One quasi-legal ramification is the appeal hearing, which has $555,555 in base salary and, potentially, millions in bonus forfeiture and/or guaranteed money hinging on it. The fan could also sue, and it sounds as if he will, for assault/battery and/or defamation.
However any legal issues play out down the road, we’ll find out sooner than later if Metcalf will be available on Sunday at Cleveland.
The AFC and NFC rosters for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games were announced on Tuesday morning.
Votes from fans, coaches and players were used to select the teams. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce led the fan vote and was named to his 11th Pro Bowl. Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and Bears safety Kevin Byard were the other leaders in that vote, but Williams is not on the initial NFC roster.
Chargers tackle Joe Alt did make the AFC roster despite playing in only six games before being shut down with an ankle injury.
Three teams — the Jets, Saints and Vikings — have no Pro Bowlers. The Broncos, 49ers, Ravens, and Seahawks each had six players selected.
The Pro Bowl Games will be held in San Francisco on February
The full rosters appear below with starters indicated by an asterisk.
AFC
Quarterback: Josh Allen*, Buffalo Bills; Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers; Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Running back: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins; James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Jonathan Taylor*, Indianapolis Colts
Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens
Wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase*, Cincinnati Bengals; Nico Collins*, Houston Texans; Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens; Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Tight end: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders*; Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive tackle: Joe Alt*, Los Angeles Chargers; Garett Bolles*, Denver Broncos; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
Offensive guard: Quinn Meinerz*, Denver Broncos; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Center: Creed Humphrey*, Kansas City Chiefs; Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive end: Will Anderson Jr.*, Houston Texans; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders; Myles Garrett*, Cleveland Browns
Interior linemen: Zach Allen, Denver Broncos; Chris Jones*, Kansas City Chiefs; Jeffrey Simmons*, Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker: Nik Bonitto*, Denver Broncos; Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers; T.J. Watt*, Pittsburgh Steelers
Inside/middle linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans; Roquan Smith*, Baltimore Ravens
Cornerback: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots; Derek Stingley Jr.*, Houston Texans; Pat Surtain II*, Denver Broncos; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Free safety: Jalen Ramsey*, Pittsburgh Steelers
Strong safety: Kyle Hamilton*, Baltimore Ravens; Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
Long-snapper: Ross Matiscik*, Jacksonville Jaguars
Punter: Jordan Stout*, Baltimore Ravens
Place-kicker: Cameron Dicker*, Los Angeles Chargers
Return specialist: Chimere Dike*, Tennessee Titans
Special-teamer: Ben Skowronek*, Pittsburgh
NFC
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford*, Los Angeles Rams; Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Running back: Jahmyr Gibbs*, Detroit Lions; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver: Puka Nacua*, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba*, Seattle Seahawks; George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Tight end: Trey McBride*, Arizona Cardinals; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive tackle: Penei Sewell*, Detroit Lions; Tristan Wirfs* Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive guard: Tyler Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Joe Thuney*, Chicago Bears; Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
Center: Drew Dalman*, Chicago Bears; Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive end: Aidan Hutchinson*, Detroit Lions; Micah Parsons*, Green Bay Packers; DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle Seahawks
Interior linemen: Jalen Carter*, Philadelphia Eagles; Leonard Williams*, Seattle Seahawks, Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Outside linebacker: Brian Burns*, New York Giants, Jared Verse*, Los Angeles Rams; Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
Inside/middle linebacker: Jack Campbell*, Detroit Lions; Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Cornerback: Jaycee Horn*, Carolina Panthers; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
Free safety: Kevin Byard III*, Chicago Bears; Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strong safety: Budda Baker*, Arizona Cardinals
Long-snapper: Jon Weeks*, San Francisco 49ers
Punter: Tress Way*, Washington Commanders
Placekicker: Brandon Aubrey*, Dallas Cowboys
Return specialist: Rashid Shaheed*, Seattle Seahawks
Special-teamer: Luke Gifford*, San Francisco 49ers
As the NFL was figuring out what to do about Steelers receiver DK Metcalf and his decision to approach the stands and initiate contact with a fan, Metcalf’s camp was working hard to get his side of the story out there (even if Metcalf declined to provide his side of the story after the game).
Here’s the problem. The fan strongly disagrees with the version that became the subject of multiple media reports, and he’s clearly planning to sue one or more parties.
Via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, the fan whom Metcalf grabbed and tried to punch (it grazed the fan at best) has retained counsel, who have issued a strong statement contradicting the reports regarding the fan’s role in the situation.
In the statement, Shawn Head and Sean Murphy of the Head Murphy Law Firm called the allegations of inappropriate comments from Ryan Kennedy “completely false.”
“Ryan Kennedy categorically denies using the ‘N-word,’ the ‘C-word,’ or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based slur during the incident,” the lawyers said. (Emphasis in the original.)
“The claims suggesting otherwise are untrue and are not supported by video evidence, eyewitness accounts, or any contemporaneous reporting,” the lawyers said. “Despite reports in the media last night and today, Mr. Kennedy has not used such language during any interaction with Mr. Metcalf or any other players in the past.”
The statement mentions in the final paragraph that “this matter will now likely be the subject of formal legal proceedings.” Although Kennedy can sue Metcalf for assault and/or battery (the evidence of it is clear), he was not obviously injured, which means that the damages will likely be very low. However, the statement from Kennedy’s lawyers makes it clear that a defamation lawsuit is being considered, possibly against Metcalf, whoever leaked Metcalf’s version to the media, and/or the media members who may have shared those claims without attempting to ascertain Kennedy’s version of the events, and/or without mentioning Kennedy’s claim to the Detroit Free Press that he merely called Metcalf by his full name.
“Since these false statements began circulating publicly, Mr. Kennedy has been subjected to harassment, threats, and messages advocating violence, creating serious concern for his and his family’s personal safety and well-being,” the lawyers said. “No private individual should be falsely branded with such accusation or exposed to threats based on information.” (Emphasis in the original.)
Word of the allegation that Kennedy used multiple slurs toward Metcalf first emerged from Chad Johnson’s comments on the Nightcap podcast. Later, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reiterated the same claims. They could both end up involved in a potential defamation lawsuit — along with Metcalf and/or whoever pushed an allegedly false narrative about Kennedy’s remarks.
Because Kennedy is not a public figure, the bar for proving defamation would be much lower than it would be if, for example, false information had been publicized about a player. Which means that, on top of everything else the NFL will be dealing with as it relates to cleaning up the mess Metcalf caused by initiating contact with Kennedy, the league now needs to worry about its in-house media operation’s decision to publish Metcalf’s potentially false claims without properly vetting them, without seeking comment from Kennedy, and/or without mentioning Kennedy’s version of the events as supplied to the Detroit Free Press.
As to Johnson, his comments didn’t even cite a source. He said it as if it was factual. And so Sharpe/Johnson have a potential legal issue, too.
Bottom line? The incident itself created little if any true liability. The effort to stave off a suspension and/or to justify Metcalf’s actions could become a very expensive proposition, for Metcalf, his representative(s), and/or multiple media outlets.
Precedent, schmecedent.
Even if the NFL’s history when it comes to player interaction with fans had been to fine the player, the league had no choice but to suspend Steelers receiver DK Metcalf for initiating contact with a fan on Sunday in Detroit. And the Commissioner (or his designee) will have no choice but to uphold the punishment on appeal.
Although some are trying hard (frankly, a little too hard) to excuse Metcalf’s conduct by pointing to allegedly inappropriate comments the fan made to Metcalf, the response can’t be to walk over to the stands, reach up and grab a fan by the T-shirt, yank the fan down, and then throw a fist out of it.
If the fan said improper things to Metcalf, Metcalf should have complained to stadium security, as he reportedly did in 2024, when the same fan allegedly harassed Metcalf at a Seahawks game in Seattle. NFL players generally are larger and stronger than the vast majority of customers who attend games. There must be a bright line that no player can cross.
Beyond basic issues of what should and shouldn’t be acceptable by the operator of a business that invites members of the public to pay a significant amount of money to consume its product, failure to take swift and decisive action creates a major legal risk. If the next incident involves a player making solid contact with his fist to a fan’s face and causing serious injury, there would be massive potential liability — exacerbated by the failure of the league to effectively punish the last player who had done something like it.
And this one is very different from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s shove of a Bills fan in Week 1. The fan was initiating contact with multiple players, pushing their helmets as they passed by the stands after a touchdown. Jackson simply reacted to the fan who initiated contact with Jackson by shoving Jackson’s helmet.
On Sunday, Metcalf walked over to the stands, aggressively snatched the fan’s shirt, and pulled down. Then came the punch, which some are splitting hairs to call not a punch. It was a punch, and it nearly connected.
Consider the lawsuit Fox is currently defending, as a result of Mark Sanchez’s off-the-clock alleged battery of a 69-year-old truck driver in Indianapolis. In this case, Metcalf was at work. The league failed to have safeguards in place to prevent Metcalf or any other player from approaching the stands and initiating contact with a fan. Beyond Metcalf, the Steelers, the league, and the owner/operator of Ford Field would have had major liability if the fan had fallen over the railing and suffered an injury, or if Metcalf had broken the guy’s jaw (or worse).
The suspension is fair. The suspension was required. Now, the league, its teams, and its stadiums will be required to devise a security plan that not only keeps customers from assaulting players, but that also keeps players (or coaches or any other employees on the sideline) from assaulting customers.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy left Sunday’s win over the Giants with a right hand injury and he would have missed practice on Monday for the same reason.
The Vikings turned in an estimated injury report ahead of Thursday’s game against the Lions and it showed McCarthy as a non-participant. X-rays of the hand were negative, but more tests were planned for Monday to determine the extent of McCarthy’s injury.
Running back Jordan Mason (ankle) and center Ryan Kelly (concussion) also would have missed practice after being injured on Sunday. Tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) and right tackle Brian O’Neill (heel) were the other Vikings listed as out of practice.
Running back Aaron Jones (ankle) and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave (thigh) were listed as limited. Tight end Gavin Bartholomew (back), running back Ty Chandler (knee), and linebacker Austin Keys (ankle) were listed as full participants.
The NFL’s precedent when it comes to player interaction with fans has been to impose a fine. Sunday’s behavior by Steelers receiver DK Metcalf was largely unprecedented.
And so the league has suspended Metcalf for two games without pay. Per the NFL, the punishment is for “conduct detrimental to the NFL for initiating a physical confrontation with a fan during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.”
From the league’s press release: “Metcalf’s actions violate league policy, which specifies that ‘players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day and . . . if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable.”
Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any appeal will be handled not by one of the usual hearing officers but by the Commissioner or his designee.
If the suspension is upheld, Metcalf will miss the Week 17 game at Cleveland and the regular-season finale against the Ravens.
At a base salary of $5 million, the suspension will cost Metcalf $555,555 in lost game checks. He also could lose a portion of his $30 million signing bonus. Depending on the language of his contract, Metcalf’s future guarantees ($25 million in 2026) could potentially be voided by the Steelers, if they decide to do so.
Metcalf has two prior fines this season and 16 in his career. However, as evidenced by the fact that the Commissioner will handle the appeal, this falls beyond the usual procedure for on-field misconduct.
