No matter one’s intentions, if a player hits a referee in the head, they’re going to be tossed from the game.
Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries found that out during the second quarter of Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Seahawks, whose linebacker, Jordyn Brooks, shoved Humphries in the facemask during a post-play altercation.
When Humphries tried swiping back, he ended up smacking down judge Brian Sakowski in the head as Sakowski tried to keep the two players apart.
Humphries, 29, is in his ninth season with the Cardinals after being drafted in the first round out of Florida in 2015.
He was inactive his entire rookie season but turned himself into a stalwart tackle, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 that led to him getting a three-year contract extension worth $51.7 million, according to Spotrac.
The Cardinals (1-6) led 10-7 early in the second quarter but couldn’t muster any more points as the Seahawks (4-2) took the lead before halftime on an 18-yard Geno Smith touchdown pass to Jake Bobo before two second-half field goals finished off the game.
It’s been a rough season for the Cardinals under first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon as they await quarterback Kyler Murray’s return from a torn ACL.
Murray, 26, returned to practice last week and Arizona has until Nov. 8 to activate him.
Joshua Dobbs has started in Murray’s place; he went 19-for-33 with 146 yards on Sunday while rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Dobbs has 1,361 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games.
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