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Carolina Panthers safety Tre’Von Moehrig has been suspended one game for hitting San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the groin area late in the team’s 20-9 loss, the NFL announced Tuesday.
Late in the fourth quarter and at the end of a running play, Moehrig hit Jennings in the groin. Jennings doubled over in pain and backed away.
As the play ended, the 49ers wide receiver sought out Moehrig and threw a punch to the defensive back’s head. Jennings had to be pulled back by several teammates and staff.
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Tre’Von Moehrig (7) of the Carolina Panthers during the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 19, 2025. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jennings said after the fight that he was “just reacting to some childish behavior,” and said the punch came out of nowhere.
“It just came out of nowhere,” Jennings said. “It’s probably just the story of me playing ball. I play hard. I’m physically stronger than a lot of DBs out there. At least a lot of things happen between the whistles with me.”
Moehrig said the shot to the groin area was a response to the physical play throughout the game.
49ERS WIDE RECEIVER CONTROLS PANTHERS PLAYER AFTER PLAY AFTER GREEK SHOT
Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers is separated from Tre’von Moehrig #7 of the Carolina Panthers after the game at Levi’s Stadium on November 24, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
“He was pushing me in the back and stuff, you know. That’s really all it was,” Moehrig said. “There’s really not much to it. It was just, you know what I’m saying? Like I said, I’ll take it. He wanted to do some dirty stuff, so… That’s what it is man.”
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he was proud of the wide receiver for not reacting immediately after he was hit.
“(Moehrig) took a cheap shot and hit him in the balls, and I was really proud of Jauan for not losing his mind out there and getting him to the sideline,” Shanahan said after the game in a news conference.
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The NFL said Moehrig violated “Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’ including, among others, ‘throwing a punch or forearm or kicking an opponent.'”
Moehrig is appealing his suspension, according to ESPN. If his appeal is denied, he will miss the team’s upcoming game against the red-hot Los Angeles Rams.
Jennings will be fined for his hit but not suspended, according to the NFL Network. The 49ers could ill afford to lose Jennings as they enter the final stretch of the season at 8-4 and in the midst of a heated playoff race in the NFC.
