Colts WR Isaiah McKenzie denies killing bald eagle after rumor about his suspension goes viral

The Indianapolis Colts announced the suspensions of wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown last month without giving any indication as to why, leading to some wild speculation online. McKenzie took to social media this week to denounce a rumor flying around that he was suspended for killing a bald eagle, the United State’s national bird.

“It’s 2024 so let start fresh first things first i did not kill a bald eagle that story is false,” McKenzie posted on X on January 1.

The two players were sent to the Reserve/Suspended list for the final three games of the regular season for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Apparently, that conduct does not include the killing of a bald eagle. Bald eagles were at risk of extinction at one point in the 20th century but the population has rebounded. Despite it’s re-classification to “threatened” from “endangered,” the species is still protected from commercial trapping and killing via the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Despite McKenzie’s protestation, some are still very confused about the situation. One poster wrote under the wideout’s tweet, “This answers a whole lot less than you think.”

Suspended Colts players could return in postseason

McKenzie, a former fifth-round draft pick out of Georgia, is in his first season with Indianapolis. He played one season for Denver before going to the Bills where he played for five seasons. So far this year, he has 11 catches on 14 targets for 82 yards.

Tony Brown is in his fifth season in the league and second with the Colts. The former Alabama player began his career with two seasons in Green Bay before moving to Cincinnati for one year. He has 10 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in 12 games played this season.

Both Brown and McKenzie could return for Indianapolis in the postseason, however, the team needs to punch their ticket first. They face the Houston Texans on Saturday in a game that could decide the division. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ game against the Tennessee Titans also has playoff implications in the AFC.

NFL suspended Steelers safety for remainder of the season

The NFL also suspended Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee for the remainder of the 2023 season last month for a hit he laid on Colts wideout Michael Pittman Jr. in Week 15.

The NFL said in a statement that the suspension of Kazee was due to “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during this Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.”

Damontae Kazee is in his seventh season in the NFL after going in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons. In addition to Atlanta and Pittsburgh, he has also played for the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the 2023 regular season with 61 tackles and two interceptions.