NFL says Trent Williams’ punch didn’t appear to rise ‘to the level of flagrant’ based on available video

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New York Giants fans were left baffled over NFL officials decision not to eject San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams from Thursday night’s game after throwing a closed-fist punch at defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson just before halftime. 

However, as NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson later explained, officials did not see it as an eject-worthy offense. 

George Kittle, #85, Trent Williams, #71, and Fred Warner, #54 of the San Francisco 49ers, on the sideline before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 17, 2023 in Inglewood, California. The 49ers defeated the Rams 30-23. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

The scuffle happened in the second quarter as the Niners attempted to take a knee to run out the clock. Robinson appeared to shove Williams and guard Aaron Banks, prompting both players to respond by pushing him. 

49ERS' TRENT WILLIAMS APPEARS TO THROW PUNCH ON GIANTS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN; AVOIDS EJECTION

Robinson returned the shove to Williams, leading to the punch.

"When we have a flag thrown on the field for unnecessary roughness, members of the officiating department are able to review available video, Rule 19, to determine if there is a flagrant action that should result in a disqualification," Anderson told a pool reporter after the game.  

"We ended up looking at the video we had available to us, and we just didn't see anything that rose to the level of flagrant, which is the standard that we have to apply to disqualify the player." 

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, celebrates his touchdown with offensive tackle Trent