CHICAGO -- Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks was ejected in the first half of Sunday's 48-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pushing an official.
The incident occurred after teammate Eddie Jackson intercepted a pass from Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick late in the second quarter. The Bears were leading 35-3 at the time.
"The down judge was breaking up a skirmish between two opposing players, and after he got the players separated, [Hicks] came back and charged through him and pushed him," official Jerome Boger said in a pool report, according to The Athletic.
"It was just a deliberate act, when he knew the official was there in-between," Boger added, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Hicks recorded a sack earlier in the game. The 28-year-old has three sacks on the season, trailing only Khalil Mack for the team lead (four).
As he walked off to the Bears' locker room, Hicks peeled off his jersey and shoulder pads and threw them into the crowd.