Broncos rookie RB Lindsay ejected for throwing punch

Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay was ejected for throwing a punch with two minutes remaining in the first half in the game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Lindsay's unnecessary roughness penalty occurred after Baltimore's Terrell Suggs beat tackle Garett Bolles and hit Broncos quarterback Case Keenum on blindside pressure, knocking the ball loose. Players from both teams dove for the fumble. Lindsay dove into the pile late, and officials determined the rookie from Colorado threw a punch. Officials disqualified Lindsay for unsportsmanlike conduct, which will draw a fine this week. The Broncos trailed 17-14 at the time after having a touchdown return negated by a block-in-the-back penalty and then Lindsay's penalty took them out of field goal range. Lindsay became the second player ejected Sunday, following Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Akeem Spence's ejection during the game against the Oakland Raiders after ripping off the helmet of guard Kelechi Osemele. Spence was penalized in the second quarter for unnecessary roughness on the play. The penalty wiped out a drive-ending sack by Cameron Wake and left the Dolphins with only a couple of defensive linemen. The ejections of Lindsay and Spence were enforced as part of a revision in the NFL's rules that grants referees discretion to disqualify players for egregious infractions, including post-play penalties.