The Sports Xchange

The NFL on Thursday confirmed a one-game benching for the official involved in the clock mistake during Monday night’s San Diego Chargers-Pittsburgh Steelers game in San Diego.

Side judge Rob Vernatchi will not work during Week 6 after he failed to catch a timing effor that resulted in the clock running for 18 extra seconds. The NFL also disciplined back judge Greg Wilson over a separate call during the Detroit-Lions-Seattle Seahawks game on Oct. 5, assigning him to a lower-profile game this week.

“Side judge Rob Vernatchi will not officiate in Week 6 as a result of the failure to notice that the game clock was incorrectly started late in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Steeler and San Diego Chargers,” the league said in a statement. “The mistake will also impact the evaluation of the other six members of the officiating crew, led by Pete Morelli.

“The official game time is kept on the stadium scoreboard, but it is the responsibility of the side judge to supervise the timing of the game. Had the side judge or any of the other six on-field officials noticed the timing error, they could have corrected it. The status of the clock operator in San Diego, who is an NFL employee, is under review.”

After a San Diego field goal with 2:56 left in the game, the Chargers kicked off to the Steelers, who kneeled in the end zone for a touchback. The clock should not have moved, but 18 seconds ran off and the Steelers ended up winning 24-20.

Wilson’s reassignment was not confirmed by the NFL but resulted from him missing an illegal bat penalty in the back of the end zone during the Seahawks’ 13-10 victory over the Lions. The Lions should have retained possession on the Seattle 1-yard line, but Wilson did not make the call and the Seahawks were awarded the ball and ran out the clock.

Wilson was scheduled to work the New England Patriots-Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday night but was moved to the Miami Dolphins-Tennessee Titans game on Sunday afternoon.