NFL suspends Panthers safety Tre'Von Moehrig for hitting 49ers player in crotch

Alex Zietlow, The Charlotte Observer on Nov 25, 2025

Published in Football

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NFL is making a statement with its punishment of Carolina Panthers safety Tre’Von Moehrig.

The league office announced Tuesday afternoon that Moehrig will be suspended one game without pay for his “act of unsportsmanlike conduct” in the Panther’s Monday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Moehrig and San Francisco’s Jauan Jennings tangled at least twice in the waning minutes of the Panthers’ 20-9 loss on the West Coast. The worst of the incidents was facilitated by Moehrig, who threw a blatantly intentional punch at Jennings’s crotch late in the fourth quarter. The transgression was caught by ESPN cameras and violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 of the NFL rule book, which refers to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”

Jennings later retaliated after the game by swiping at Moehrig’s facemask and spawning a mild scuffle that was quickly defused.

Moehrig is appealing the suspension, according to a report from ESPN. He can appeal the league’s decision under the Collective Bargaining Agreement — just as the Bengals did this past week after Ja’Marr Chase was suspended without pay for spitting on cornerback Jalen Ramsey after his team’s Week 12 loss to the Steelers.

If his appeal fails, Moehrig won’t be eligible to return to the Panthers’ active roster until Dec. 1.

Any appeal will be heard and decided upon by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, according to a league release.

What led to the incident?

The punishment arrived before Panthers coach Dave Canales addressed reporters Tuesday afternoon. On Monday evening, the head coach said he would “get to the bottom of that” and that he would “talk to him tonight.”

In the postgame locker room, Moehrig addressed the altercations without much remorse.

“He was doing some extra stuff after the play, and talking crazy like he was doing something,” Moehrig said. “So you know, didn’t think about it — it just happened. I’ll take that one, you know what I’m saying? But the next play we got right, you know what I’m saying? So it is what it is.”

Moehrig added: “It ain’t really nothing much to it — it’s just that. Like I said, I’ll take that one. He wanted to do his little dirty stuff, so it is what it is.”

The 49ers’ were just as fired up about the low blow Monday. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters postgame that “the guy took a cheap shot and hit (Jennings) in the (genitals).”

“I was real proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there and getting to the sideline,” Shanahan said.

Added Jennings: “TV is going to tell you what happened.”

How does the suspension impact the Panthers’ defense?

News of the suspension is not a good look for Moehrig or the Panthers. Moehrig is immensely valuable, and the defense is already quite atrophied.

Carolina is now 6-6, one-half game behind Tampa Bay (6-5) in the chase for the NFC South crown. The defense has been the engine in many of the Panthers’ wins; the Charlotte-based franchise has only lost once when it has finished with the turnover margin advantage — and that one loss came Monday night.

Moehrig can’t be overlooked in his defense’s success. The Panthers’ best free-agent acquisition of 2025 has done a little bit of everything for this team. He’s been an anchor in the team’s run defense; he’s gotten involved on the pass rush; he’s even made plays in coverage. His stats to date alone indicate a potential Pro Bowl season: 81 tackles, one sack, one interception and 10 tackles for loss.

Those 10 tackles for loss are already a career high for Moehrig. It’s also the most among all defensive backs in the NFL, according to Team Rankings — and ninth across all defenders.

Moehrig’s absence also adds onto a bunch of issues the unit will have to navigate ahead of their contest with the Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers saw injuries to inside linebacker Claudin Cherelus (concussion) and cornerback Corey Thornton (ankle) — two reserve players who were heroes of the Panthers’ Week 11 win over the Falcons.

They also didn’t exit with a healthy Jaycee Horn. The 2024 Pro Bowl corner — who notched two interceptions Monday and now is tied for the league-most with five picks on the season — suffered from concussion-like symptoms Monday and didn’t play in the second half against the 49ers.