The NFL has issued a significant suspension stemming from Sunday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, escalating the league’s ongoing efforts to crack down on dangerous hits and enforce player-safety standards. The ruling also reflects the league’s continued emphasis on reducing high-risk collisions, which have drawn increased attention from coaches and medical personnel this season.
The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of tackling technique and repeat offenders, particularly in situations involving defenseless receivers. The league said the discipline was tied to repeated violations of rules designed to protect player health and safety.
Chargers Defender Disciplined by NFL After Hit on Cowboys Receiver
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman has been suspended without pay for two games.
“Chargers LB Denzel Perryman has been suspended without pay for two games for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys,” Rapoport reported on X.
#Chargers LB Denzel Perryman has been suspended without pay for two games for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 22, 2025
The latest infraction occurred on a play involving Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy, who had gone to the ground after securing a catch when Perryman delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit. Perryman was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play but remained in the game and finished with six tackles, the second-most on the team.
Here’s the play from the second quarter where #Chargers LB Denzel Perryman hits #Cowboys WR Ryan Flournoy: https://t.co/SUIhWEqBQE pic.twitter.com/IVeZFm4vj0
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) December 22, 2025
Perryman plans to appeal the suspension, his agent Rob Butler told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The veteran linebacker has a history of similar discipline; he was suspended in 2023 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Under league policy, repeat offenders face escalating punishment, including fines and multigame bans. Perryman will be eligible to return after serving the two-game suspension. The Chargers have yet to respond to the league’s decision.
The timing of the suspension adds pressure to a Chargers team entering a critical stretch of the season with playoff seeding at stake. Los Angeles is preparing for consecutive games against the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, two opponents also fighting for the best possible seeding.
Both matchups carry significant weight in the conference standings, and the Chargers will be without one of their most experienced defenders during a period when every defensive series could influence postseason positioning.
The Chargers enter the week with a PFSN Defense Impact Score of 81.8, which ranks eighth in the league. Losing a starting linebacker during this stretch forces the Chargers to rely more heavily on their depth and adjust their rotation at a time when continuity is especially valuable.
