Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall will be sidelined for one game after the NFL handed down a suspension stemming from an incident in Thursday night’s overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams.
The league cited Hall for violating two specific rules: Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8, which covers unnecessary roughness, and Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which addresses unsportsmanlike conduct. According to the NFL, Hall “unnecessarily stepped on the leg” of Rams guard Kevin Dotson at the end of a play in the first quarter - a move deemed outside the bounds of sportsmanship.
What’s notable here is that Hall wasn’t flagged during the game. The play flew under the radar in real time, but league officials reviewed it afterward and determined it crossed the line.
Dotson, meanwhile, exited the game with 1:54 left in the first quarter. After being evaluated on the sideline, he was carted to the locker room and didn’t return.
Postgame, he was seen in a walking boot and using crutches - not an encouraging sign for the Rams’ offensive front.
Hall has the right to appeal the suspension, and if he does, the case will go before one of three hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. That decision will determine whether the punishment stands or is reduced.
If the suspension is upheld, Hall will miss Seattle’s upcoming matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 28 at Bank of America Stadium. He’d be eligible to return to the active roster the following day, just in time to begin preparations for the Seahawks’ regular-season finale against the 49ers on Jan. 4.
Financially, the suspension would cost Hall roughly $87,705 of his 2025 salary - a significant hit for a player still on his rookie deal.
Hall logged 42 of the Seahawks’ 90 defensive snaps in Thursday’s game and recorded three tackles. While that might not jump off the stat sheet, Hall’s presence has been steady in his third year with the team. After being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Auburn, Hall made an immediate impact, starting 14 games last season and racking up eight sacks while playing 60 percent of the defensive snaps.
This year, his role has shifted a bit. He’s started just three games and seen a dip in snap count, down to 46 percent, with one sack to his name. Still, Hall remains a key rotational piece in Seattle’s front seven - especially as the team fights to stay in the playoff mix.
This suspension, if it holds, comes at a critical time for the Seahawks. With postseason hopes still in play, losing a contributor like Hall - even for one game - could impact a defense that’s already had its share of ups and downs this season.