Chargers All-Pro Receives Hefty Fine for Late Hit on Justin Fields

Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack was fined $16,883 for a late hit on Justin Fields in last Sunday’s game. Mack was penalized on the play for roughing the passer. On the play, Mack attempted to deflect Fields’ pass but he ended up swiping his head.

Mack was one of three players to get fined from the Steelers-Chargers game. Steelers tight end Darnell Washington was fined $6,700 for an illegal crackback block, while Chargers safety Derwin James will miss a game check for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pat Freiermuth.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was not happy with James’ one-game suspension handed out by the league. In fact, Harbaugh thinks a stiff-arm by Freiermuth made Derwin’s hit look worse than it actually was. James was penalized 15 yards in game for a blow to the head of Freiermuth.

“There was not a defenseless player, changed his course, and I thought that Derwin’s helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth,” Harbaugh said. “I thought that caused his head to make the contact, and I thought the contact was first with the forearm, then the shoulder, then the head.”

James has been suspended for repeated violations of the league’s rule for head contact. He will miss one game without pay, as the Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.

NFL vice president Jon Runyan announced the suspension in a letter to James that the league published.

“During the third quarter of Sunday’s Chargers-Steelers game you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote. “The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact to Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided.

“Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated. Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player.”

Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed on the Pat McAfee Show that Freiermuth was on the appeal call and said he didn’t think the James hit was dirty.

Washington announced his fine while speaking with the media in the Steelers locker room this week. He said he intends to appeal the fine.

An illegal crackback block is when any player, most often an offensive player lined up more than two yards outside the offensive tackle, cuts into the middle of the field and initiates blindside contact with a defender. Crackback blocks are a 15-yard penalty during games. Washington’s illegal block went unpenalized during last Sunday’s game.