Davante Adams likely to avoid suspension for now due to charges in Kansas City [UPDATED]

Davante Adams shoved a photographer to the ground on Monday night. Precedent suggests legal charges could result in a delayed suspension.

UPDATE, 10/16:  “unlikely to discipline” Davante Adams until the legal proceedings play outIan Rapoport has reported that the NFL is,.

Though the incident was just a few seconds of footage, there is a lot to know about the Davante Adams incident. If you missed it, here’s a quick summary of everything you need to know.

Quickly, though, Adams shoved a credentialed photographer that was in his path after the Raiders‘ Monday Night loss to the Chiefs. The photographer fell to the ground and reportedly suffered some injuries.

In fallout, a police report was filed and Adams was charged with misdemeanor assault. That has people asking big questions like could Adams actually face jail time as well as smaller questions like will he be suspended at all?

Adams also deleted a Tweet apologizing to the person he shoved.

In a somewhat backward way, Adams may avoid suspension now that he has been charged with something.

NFL’s precedent suggests Davante Adams will avoid suspension temporarily

Some recent background: During the most recent NFL Pro Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, Alvin Kamara allegedly attacked a man at a Las Vegas club. Kamara was subsequently charged with assault after he was interviewed by police after his participation in the Pro Bowl game.

Kamara’s court date has been pushed back multiple times now to prepare evidence. The next hearing is scheduled for November 9.

In the meantime, the NFL has not suspended Kamara. It has been speculated that the league will hand down some sort of punishment to Kamara only once the legal proceedings conclude.

That precedent lends credibility to the idea that Adams may not face suspension just yet, even if his actions dictate that he should be punished by the league. Traditionally, the league has tried to be hands-off with determining punishment when external legal proceedings are in play.

A primary difference here is that the Adams incident occurred in an NFL Stadium, was caught on camera in front of a live TV audience, and was against an NFL-credentialed photojournalist. The evidence here is clear as day while Kamara’s situation is a little murkier. The NFL may not want to give the perception that Adam’s actions against credentialed media are appropriate, and could treat this situation differently as a result.

At this point, this is all speculative, but connecting the dots shows us Adams could walk away unsuspended… for now. One has to assume that Adams will face suspension at some point, it’s just a matter of when.

Things get a lot messier now that charges have been handed out.