NFL Fines Steelers WR DK Metcalf for Taunting in Vikings Clash

Pittsburgh, PA – September 29, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ gritty 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin has been clouded by postgame headlines, as the NFL announced a disciplinary ruling involving star wide receiver DK Metcalf.

In the third quarter, tensions flared after a physical tackle involving Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner and Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth. The two clashed in a brief scuffle that quickly drew in teammates from both sidelines.

Dallas Turner just slapped DK Metcalf 😭 pic.twitter.com/Ncy1HLSs4e
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 28, 2025

Metcalf stepped in to intervene, but replay later showed him grabbing Turner’s facemask and shoving him away. On Monday, the NFL ruled his actions constituted taunting under Rule 12, Section 3, and issued a fine of

$11,593.

League officials stated the act escalated the confrontation rather than diffusing it. Although no penalty was flagged during the game, the postgame review determined Metcalf’s involvement violated the league’s standards of conduct.

Turner’s response was also reviewed for unnecessary roughness, though no fine has been confirmed. The decision highlights the NFL’s continued crackdown on taunting and escalation, part of its stricter enforcement in 2025.

Head coach Mike Tomlin defended his receiver: “DK’s intention was to protect his teammate. The league judged it differently, and we’ll respect that decision and keep our focus on football.”

Metcalf’s fiery style has always been a double-edged sword — a source of passion and leadership, but also of penalties and scrutiny. His latest fine adds to a reputation built on intensity.

For the Steelers, the incident won’t overshadow their victory, but it reinforces how quickly emotions can turn costly. Even attempts to defend teammates are judged harshly under the NFL’s evolving rulebook.

Where to watch Packers vs. Lions: How big of an impact will Micah Parsons have in Green Bay debut?

Can Parsons help rearrange the NFC North hierarchy in Week 1?

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The two-time defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions head to Lambeau Field to face off against the rival Green Bay Packers in what has become one of Week 1's marquee matchups.

Green Bay stunned the entire NFL by acquiring All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Parsons will help the Packers defense do battle against a Lions offense that led the league in scoring offense (33.2 points per game, best in franchise history). However, Detroit will be working through some changes too with both offensive coordinator

Ben Johnson, now the coach of the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, now the coach of the New York Jets, no longer on the Lions' sideline.

Let's dig into this matchup and predict a winner ahead of Sunday afternoon's NFC North showdown.

Where to watch Lions vs. Packers

Date: Sunday, Sept. 7 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Lambeau Field (Green Bay)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Packers -2.5; O/U 47.5 (via FanDuel Sportsbook)

When the Lions have the ball

Parsons teams up with a Packers defense that produced a top 10 scoring unit (19.9 points per game allowed, sixth in

NFL) in its first season under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in 2024. The 26-year-old, who leads the NFL in quarterback pressure rate (20.3%, minimum 1,000 pass rushes), co-leads the league in quarterback pressures (330, tied with

Maxx Crosby) and has 12 or more sacks in each of his first four seasons, is the NFL's best at getting after the quarterback.

Fortunately for Detroit quarterback Jared Goff

, he has one of the better offensive lines in the NFL led by two-time first-team All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell. According to CBS Sports Research, Sewell is the only offensive tackle to start every game and allow one or fewer sacks across each of the last two years. He's allowed just two sacks, one each year, on 1,242 pass-blocking snaps.

Parsons and Packers Pro Bowl edge rusher Rashan Gary will look to wreak havoc on Goff and Co. all afternoon long, but in order to do that on clear passing downs, they'll need to slow down the NFL's most productive running duo:

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. They're the first duo in NFL history with 10 or more rushing touchdowns each in consecutive seasons.

When the Packers have the ball

The Lions will welcome back a healthy

Aidan Hutchinson, their Pro Bowl edge rusher who led the NFL in sacks (7.5) and quarterback pressures (45) through Week 6 (when he broke his tibia and fibula). The Packers will also look to keep quarterback

Jordan Love healthy throughout 2025: he suffered a sprained MCL in Week 1 last season that he was never quite able to shake off. Love did undergo left thumb surgery in August, but he has fully practiced all week this week.

Green Bay drafted a wide receiver in the first round for the first time since 2022 by selecting Texas' Matthew Golden 23rd overall in April. The Packers hope Golden can help create more big plays downfield because those have been lacking from Green Bay receivers in Love's first two seasons as

Aaron Rodgers' successor. Love averages 8.0 yards per pass attempt to wide receivers, 21st in the NFL since 2023 and 7.3 yards per pass attempt to running backs and tight ends, fourth in the NFL across the last two seasons. Pro Bowl running back

Josh Jacobs will also certainly factor into the game plan heavily: his 1,329 yards rushing were the most by a Packer since Ahman Green in 2003, and his 15 rushing touchdowns were tied for the third-most in a season in Green Bay history.