Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. has been ejected from Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was the first ejection of the young NFL season.
On the Chiefs' first possession, Harrison made a tackle on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire near the sideline. As Harrison was returning to the field, his foot grazed Edwards-Helaire on the ground and a Chiefs offensive lineman bumped him back a bit. A Chiefs assistant coach interpreted the act as the safety intentionally stepping on Edwards-Helaire and pushed him off. Harrison turned around and roughly shoved the coach.
Ronnie Harrison pushing coaches 😳
— PFF (@PFF) September 12, 2021
pic.twitter.com/XQaxthMrvW
The officiating crew initially flagged the Kansas City sideline for unnecessary roughness before conferring and changing the call. When the dust had settled, the penalty against the Chiefs had been rescinded and Harrison was ejected. On the very next play, Patrick Mahomes completed a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Kansas City had to settle for a field goal on their opening possession of the 2021 season.
Harrison was acquired in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars leading up to last season. In 11 games, he recorded 38 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, one interception and a touchdown.
Cleveland's season was ended in the divisional round of the playoffs by this same Chiefs team. The Browns were already without safety Grant Delpit, the second-round pick from LSU that missed the entire 2020 season with an Achilles injury. The secondary depth that general manager Andrew Berry worked so hard to build during the offseason has already taken a substantial hit. Cornerback M.J. Stewart entered the game in replacement of Harrison.
