NFL suspends Texans LB Denzel Perryman for hits

Houston Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman has been suspended three games by the NFL for repeated violations of player safety rules, the league announced Tuesday.

NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan referenced in a letter to Perryman that the latter was "involved in a play that the league considers a serious violation of the playing rules" during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

"You lowered your head and delivered a forcible blow to the shoulder and then the head/neck of the receiver (Ja'Marr Chase)," Runyan wrote.

Perryman was flagged for unnecessary roughness for the hit the play.

Runyan also noted that Perryman has been involved in six violations of this type — including one in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.

"When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties," Runyan wrote in his letter.

Perryman will sit out Houston's home games against the Arizona Cardinals (Sunday), Jacksonville Jaguars (Nov. 26) and Denver Broncos (Dec. 3) as a result of the suspension. He is eligible to return to the Texans' roster on Dec. 4.

Perryman, 30, has 41 tackles and a half-sack in six games (five starts) this season.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2021, Perryman has totaled 627 tackles, 6.5 sacks, five interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 102 career games (82 starts) with the then-San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2015-20), Las Vegas Raiders (2021-22) and Texans.

—Field Level Media