Eagles safety Sydney Brown was fined $46,371 by the NFL for an unnecessary roughness infraction that was not flagged on the field during the Eagles’ Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders.
It was the largest fine of Brown’s career and the largest among the 23 players the league fined during Week 18.
According to the NFL’s gameday accountability site, Brown was fined for use of his helmet while making a hit with 12:59 remaining in the second quarter. Washington’s Ben Sinnott made a catch in the short left flat and Brown closed fast, stopping the tight end after a two-yard gain. His first contact was with his helmet, but no mention of the play being illegal was made during the FOX telecast.
This was the second straight week the league fined Brown for unnecessary roughness. He was fined $8,432 in Week 17 for what the league described as striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing. That penalty was for a special-teams play during the Eagles’ game against the Buffalo Bills.
Brown was also fined $6,981 in Week 17 last season after being involved in a fight near the end zone with Cowboys cornerback Troy Pride and wide receiver Jalen Brooks. Pride and Brooks were also fined lesser amounts for that incident.
The fine for using his helmet was a first for Brown, but he was likely warned about it before that. His fine matched that of running back Saquon Barkley from earlier this season. In Week 2, the league fined Barkley $46,371 for lowering his head during a run against the Chiefs. That was the second offense for Barkley, who was also fined after a Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns last season. He was fined $45,020 in that instance for lowering his head on a play that resulted in an eight-yard gain and no in-game penalty.
In addition to Brown, Eagles receiver Darius Cooper was fined $4,694 for taunting after a 17-yard reception late in the second quarter against the Commanders. He was flagged 15 yards at the end of that play.
Washington safety Jeremy Reaves was not fined for what appeared to be a hip-drop tackle on Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra with 4:59 left in the third quarter. Calcaterra told NJ Advance Media that Reaves apologized after the play, which sent the tight end out of the game with an ankle injury. Calcaterra is expected to play in Sunday’s first-round playoff game against the 49ers.