After a hearing with Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive back Deontai Williams, the Canadian Football League has suspended him one game for his tackle on Ottawa Redblacks’ receiver Kalil Pimpleton.
With six seconds remaining in the Riders’ 29-16 win at Mosaic Stadium in Week 17, Pimpleton caught an eight-yard pass from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. He was met by Williams, who slammed him head-first into the turf.
The six-foot-one, 225-pound DB was flagged for a 25-yard unnecessary roughness penalty and given a rough play disqualification from the game. The hit sparked an altercation on the sideline that also resulted in the ejection of Ottawa receiver Dominique Rhymes. In the league’s punishment for Williams, the CFL cited a non-football act striking an opponent amid the altercation as part of his offence. Rhymes was not fined for his role in the incident.
After initially remaining down on the field, Pimpleton was able to get up and walk off before the Redblacks training staff got to him. Williams later emailed the five-foot-seven, 175-pound pass catcher to apologize for what the league called an “illegal and dangerous tackle.”
The Jacksonville, Fla. native has played in 11 games this season, recording 41 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He serves his suspension when the Roughriders (7-7-1) visit the Edmonton Elks (5-10) on Saturday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
