Ravens safety Ed Reed won his appeal of a one-game suspension for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (88) on Sunday. (US Presswire)

Baltimore Ravens S Ed Reed will play against San Diego on Sunday as an NFL arbitrator ruled in his favor following an appeal he filed after being given a one-game suspension by the NFL on Monday. He was instead fined $50,000.

Arbitrator Ted Cottrell ruled in favor of Reed during the appeals process. Reed was facing a one-game suspension without pay, which would have cost him almost $424,000.

Reed was initially suspended due to a helmet-to-helmet hit against Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders on Sunday night. Although the hit was high, there didn’t seem to be malicious intent on the tackle, which likely played a part in Cottrell overturning the suspension.

“The league has an appeal process to review situations like this, and Ed had his opportunity to answer questions about his play,” Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “Ted Cottrell, a long-time NFL defensive coach, reviewed Ed’s play. Ted is the arbitrator approved by both the NFL and the NFL Players Association, and he made the decision.”

Coach John Harbaugh said he was “surprised” at the ruling on Monday and that Reed’s hits in question were never made in intent to harm.

“They were all inadvertent,” Harbaugh said Monday. “None of those were with intent to injure or to harm in any way. When you look at the hits, that’s pretty obvious. We all know Ed. Ed respects the game. He respects his fellow players.”

The NFL tried to make the case that Reed was a repeat offender with three helmet-to-helmet hits in the past two calendar years. The first came in 2010 on a high hit against Saints QB Drew Brees. The second was this year against the Patriots after WR Deion Branch caught a pass over the deep middle. And the third was Sunday against Sanders.

Cottrell wrote a letter to Reed explaining his decision.

“I have determined that your actions were egregious and warrant significant discipline," Cottrell wrote. "However, I do not believe that your actions were so egregious as to subject you to a one-game suspension without pay. Player safety is the league's primary concern in the formation of playing rules and all players are expected to adhere to those rules or face disciplinary action. I hope in the future you will focus on ensuring that your play conforms to the rules."

Newsome, who was involved in the appeals process, stated that the organization backed Reed through this process. 

“I think John and his coaches do an excellent job of teaching the right, safe and legal way to play football, and we believe Ed clearly tries to play within the rules on every down,” Newsome said.

Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSRavens and @JasonButtCBS.