Before the end of the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers' Week 1 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team lost one of their best defensive players. Linebacker Kwon Alexander earned an ejection for his late hit on Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston.
The hit came when Winston found an open lane to run and took it, in an attempt to make the tackle, Alexander dove for him on the slide. He did so while initiating contact with his head first, which earned him a 15-yard penalty and ejection.
Kwon Alexander ejected. pic.twitter.com/4zAXos77fj
— Melissa Jacobs (@thefootballgirl) September 8, 2019
Though nobody wants to see an ejection, it was the right call by the referees. In an effort to rid themselves of head injuries, the NFL has recently placed a strict helmet contact rule. Alexander broke it, which warranted the flag and, subsequently, ejection.
Oddly enough, Alexander's hit came on his former teammate. Before his arrival to San Francisco, Alexander was in Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of LSU.
The 49ers signed Alexander to a four-year $54 million contract after he tore his ACL in the 2018 season. For his career, he's played and started in 46 games, tallying 380 combined tackles (271 solos), 31 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits, seven sacks, 22 pass deflections, and six interceptions.
In the wake of the ejection, the 49ers have Azeez Al-Shaair and Mark Nzeocha. As for the Buccaneers, Winston was fine; therefore nobody else needed to see some time.
We'll have to wait until the 49ers face Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday.
Follow Us
Subscribe