BALTIMORE -- Broncos rookie Phillip Lindsay demands attention. But Sunday, it came for the wrong reasons.
Late in the first half against the Ravens, officials ejected Lindsay for throwing a punch as he joined a scrum during a fumble recovery.
"To be smart. That's the lesson," Lindsay told me. "I have to be smart. I am fighting for my teammates, and I can't do that if I am sitting here in the locker room."
Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. returned a blocked kick for a touchdown moments earlier. However, it was negated by nose tackle Domata Peko's illegal block as Bradley Bozeman flopped from a one-armed push 20 yards behind the play.
"We never got an explanation, really. They said 77 but he wasn't on the field. And then they said 37, and we don't have a 37," Peko said of the penalty that was announced against right tackle Billy Turner, who wasn't in the game. "It's (expletive) tough. But we have to be more disciplined, especially on the road."
The call became pivotal.
Rather than a touchdown, the Broncos took over. And it was over and out for Lindsay.
Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs slammed into Broncos quarterback Case Keenum for a sack, jarring the ball loose. As players dived into the pile, Lindsay raced in to help. According to multiple players on the field, the incident grew intense because several Broncos felt the whistle had blown with Jared Veldheer recovering the ball. He was hit by a Ravens player, leading to Lindsay's reaction to help.
On the ground, Lindsay tangled with a Ravens defender and either jabbed to keep the player's hands off him or punched. He was lying on his back. The refs saw a punch -- a questionable call -- leading to Lindsay's removal.
He finished with 20 yards on four carries, and no receptions.
"It's my first time ever getting ejected, so yeah I was surprised," Lindsay said. "It's not in my character. That's not who I am. I love the game of football."
Enjoy this content? Follow Denver7 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and download the Denver7 app on iOS and Android devices for continual access to breaking news, weather and sports.
Want Broncos news? Denver7 Broncos insider Troy E. Renck is your source. He talks to the players, covers the games and reports scoops on Denver7 and the Denver7 app. He is a CU grad who has covered pro sports in Colorado since 1996, including 14 years at The Denver Post. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and TheDenverChannel.com’s Broncos page. Troy welcomes most of your emails at Troy.Renck@kmgh.com.
