Miami Dolphins' defensive tackle Spence ejected for yanking helmet

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Akeem Spence was ejected midway through the second quarter Sunday for pulling off the helmet of Oakland's Kelechi Osemele in a scuffle between several players after a third-down play.

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Akeem Spence was ejected midway through the second quarter Sunday for pulling off the helmet of Oakland's Kelechi Osemele in a scuffle between several players after a third-down play.

Spence grabbed the facemask of Osemele's helmet and yanked it off. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness, which nullified the sack of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr by Cameron Wake and gave the Raiders a first down. Oakland scored a field goal to end the drive.

The ejection left the Raiders with two starting defensive linemen. William Hayes suffered a right knee injury earlier in the game.

Spence's ejection was one of two in the first half of a game on the early Sunday slate. Denver Broncos rookie running back Phillip Lindsay was ejected after he threw a punch while battling for possession of a ball against the Baltimore Ravens. The scuffle came after a strip sack of Broncos quarterback Case Keenum.

In the first two weeks of the season, Bengals safety Shawn Williams and Falcons safety Damontae Kazee was kicked out of games in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively, for hits to the helmet of sliding quarterbacks.