Panthers DT Vernon Butler ejected for punching Colts TE Jack Doyle

INDIANAPOLIS --Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler was ejected in the third quarter of Sunday's game for punching Coltstight end Jack Doyle.

The 2016 first-round pick out of Louisiana Tech then gave the middle finger to fans booing him as he was escorted to the locker room.

The move came with Carolina trailing 24-3 in the debut of rookie quarterback Will Grier.

Nothing on replays showed that Doyle did anything to provoke the punch to his face mask. Officials immediately threw a flag for unnecessary roughness and then announced Butler was ejected after reviewing the replay.

It appeared Butler was trying to hit guard Mark Glowinski, who continued to block him after the play appeared dead, and swung at Doyle by mistake.

Butler, whose fifth-year option wasn't renewed during the offseason, was inactive the first two games this season.

He became a force up front after Pro Bowl tackle Kawann Short suffered a season-ending rotator cuff injury in the second game, recording a career-high six sacks over the next 11 games.

After the game, Butler apologized for the punch and admitted it was intended for Glowinski and not Doyle.

"I shouldn't have hit nobody in the first place,'' Butler said. "It's not me or my character. I want to apologize to the organization, to my teammates.''

Butler also apologized for the gesture he made in response to something a fan said.

"The fans always talk to you,'' he said. "I'm sorry. I should have kept my cool. I'm a better person than that first of all. My apology.''

Butler said Glowinski continued to block him after the whistle and he didn't realize Doyle was there when he threw the punch. Doyle wears No. 84, while Glowinski wears 64.

"I told him to stop all the extra stuff,'' Butler said. "I hit him the next play. I was fed up with it. It was a bang-bang play. I got up. I thought it was 64. I take full responsibility for it. It won't happen again.''

Doyle said he was trying to defend Glowinski.

"I was laughing [when I got hit]," Doyle said. "Honestly I was smiling. I looked over to [Carolina's] sidelines and saw them all yelling and I was smiling because it's obvious a silly play by him. That's not how we as an NFL family should handle things or play football. It was rightful that he got ejected.

"I don't remember him saying anything. I just remember asking him why he's 7 yards downfield. I think Glo was getting after him a little bit, so that's awesome."

Panthers interim coach Perry Fewell said "all options are open" when asked on Monday if releasing Butler was an option.

Fewell said he did not talk to Butler on Monday and would further evaluate what the organization might do.

ESPN's Mike Wells contributed to this report.