Texans LB suspended three games for illegal hits

Denzel Perryman drew an unnecessary roughness flag for lowering his head to make a hit during Houston’s Week 10 win. The Texans will be without the veteran linebacker for a short stretch as a result.

Perryman was issued a three-game suspension by the NFL on Tuesday. Sunday’s infraction marked the seventh time he was flagged for a use of helmet foul this season, and the accumulation of such penalties has escalated to a ban. Perryman was fined over $66K in Week 2 for lowering his head, but Tuesday’s news will incur a larger financial penalty.

The 30-year-old has the option to appeal the suspension, a process which could result in the ban being reduced. That ended up being the case for Broncos safety Kareem Jackson earlier this year, as he appealed a four-game suspension for an accumulation of unnecessary roughness penalties. Jackson managed to have his absence reduced to a pair of contests. Perryman will likely look to do the same in the coming days.

After spending his first eight years in the AFC West, Perryman signed a one-year deal in free agency to join the rebuilding Texans. The low-cost deal allowed him to reunite with former Raiders teammate Cory Littleton as a member of Houston’s re-worked front seven, though the latter has bounced on and off the Texans’ roster throughout the year. Perryman has posted 41 tackles in six games while logging a 72% snap share.

Houston will be in need of a starting-caliber replacement for however long Perryman is sidelined. Fifth-round rookie Henry To’oTo’o has already established himself as a first-teamer at the LB spot by leading the team in tackles, and Littleton could see usage on defense (as opposed to special teams) with an open spot in the lineup. The Texans – currently ranked eighth in the league against the run – also have the likes of Blake Cashman, Christian Harris and Neville Hewitt available to fill in for Perryman.