Why Chargers' Teair Tart wasn't ejected for punching Travis Kelce vs. Chiefs

Billy Heyen

Why Chargers' Teair Tart wasn't ejected for punching Travis Kelce vs. Chiefs image

There would've been some notoriety for this action no matter who was involved.

But the fact that Travis Kelce was on the receiving end of the tough act made it quite viral.

Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Teair Tart, at the end of a blocking engagement with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, whacked Kelce across the face.

It looked like an action that could result in ejection in addition to the unsportsmanlike conduct flag that was thrown.

But Tart got to stay in the game.

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Why Teair Tart wasn't ejected for punching Travis Kelce

The key was how Tart's hand was positioned when he hit Kelce.

It was an open hand.

The YouTube broadcasters explained that the open hand made it not a disqualifying offense.

Here's a look:

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It can't have felt that good for Kelce's head regardless of how Tart's hand was held.

In the end, the Chargers got to keep their big fella in the game.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle