Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gets stepped on by the Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on Sunday. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — An NFL appeals officer decided Tuesday that Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's step onto Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' left leg was not worthy of a one-game suspension.

Suh traveled to New York on Tuesday to appeal the NFL's decision to suspend him for the Lions' wild-card game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Dallas.

Ted Cottrell was the hearing officer in Suh's appeal and agreed with Suh that his infraction did not warrant a suspension and reduced the punishment to a $70,000 fine.

The NFL did not release a statement explaining why the punishment was reduced. According to the NFL, Cottrell is jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFL Players Association to hear and decide appeals for on-field player discipline.

Suh was suspended Monday by Merton Hanks, NFL vice president of football operations, for violating safety-related playing rules prohibiting unnecessary roughness.

Replays of the incident show Suh being grabbed by guard T.J. Lang as the play ended and Rodgers on the ground. Suh stepped back with his right foot and appeared to inadvertently step on Rodgers' left ankle as he regained his balance.

Then he stepped back with his left foot and put all his weight on Rodgers' left calf. Rodgers responded by swatting at Suh's backside to push him off.

In his letter to Suh, Hanks pointed out, "You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided."

Suh has a long history of fines and suspension for misconduct on the field. He has been fined eight times for $216,875 and suspended once for two games for stomping on Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith in a 2011 game at Ford Field.

Having Suh back in the lineup will be critical for the Lions, who had the No. 1-ranked rush defense during the regular season, allowing just 69.3 yards per game. That's particularly important because the Cowboys, behind NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray, average 147.1 yards per game.

Suh leads the Lions with 8 1/2 sacks and ranks third in the NFL with 21 tackles for loss.

The Lions also will get center Dominic Raiola back this week. Raiola was suspended one game for stomping on the ankle of Chicago Bears defensive lineman Ego Ferguson in Week 16.

The NFL cited Raiola's history of misconduct for levying the suspension.