Metcalf has cost himself a significant amount of money in the moment of madness

THE NFL have made their final decision on DK Metcalf’s punishment after the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver appeared to punch a Detroit Lions fan.

Metcalf, 28, has been suspended for the rest of the regular season at a time when the Steelers need him most.

Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy was ‘rattled and shocked’ after clash with DK Metcalf

Metcalf will miss the rest of the regular season after the costly altercation with Kennedy at Ford Field

The star wideout appealed the NFL’s two-game ban for violating league policy but it was upheld.

He will miss their potential playoff spot clincher with the Cleveland Browns and the final week clash with the Baltimore Ravens.

The financial implications of Metcalf’s suspension are far more concerning on a personal level for the Pro Bowl wide receiver.

He will forfeit $555,556 in salary for missing the final two games through suspension.

With the two-game ban officially upheld by the NFL, $45 million of future guarantees in his Steelers contract have been voided.

CBS reviewed the fine print and confirmed that ‘conduct detrimental’ to the NFL would void his guaranteed money.

Metcalf’s $25 million salary for 2026 is now no longer guaranteed but can still be earned by playing next year.

It is very unlikely that the Steelers and Metcalf will part ways after they traded high draft capital to the Seattle Seahawks for him.

The negative consequences of his altercation with the Lions fan, who identified himself as Ryan Kennedy, will hit him hardest in 2027.

He had $20 million in salary guarantees that was injury-protected should he fail his physical in March 2027.

That is no longer the case due to his suspension and now the Steelers would have an out should he fail that physical.

The Week 16 altercation in Detroit, which had two very differing accounts reported, has ultimately cost Metcalf a LOT of money.

ESPN sources stated that this was not Metcalf and Kennedy’s first encounter, with the former Seahawk reporting the fan to team security last year.

Meanwhile, Kennedy said to the Detroit Free Press that the altercation was sparked by him calling Metcalf by his government name.

What is concrete fact is that the Steelers are losing Metcalf for the final two games of the regular season.

In his absence and Calvin Austin III out with a hamstring injury, second-year wideout Roman Wilson will have to step up.

Wilson and veterans Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdez-Scantling are likely Aaron Rodgers’ three main weapons for the rest of the season.