It’s little consolation now, but the NFL fined Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks for an illegal hit on Green Bay Packers returner Keisean Nixon during the opening kickoff of last Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Burks, a former Packer, was fined $8,333 for an unnecessary roughness violation stemming from an illegal use of his helmet.
Replays showed Burks hit Nixon in the helmet with his own helmet on the fumble-causing hit. No penalty was called, but the fine reveals that the NFL’s review of the play found an infraction worth a fine.
The Eagles recovered Nixon’s fumble and took an early 7-0 lead.
After the 22-10 loss, Nixon believed the hit should have been penalized, and he thought he recovered his fumble. Had the play been penalized, the fumble would have been negated.
Packers defensive lineman TJ Slaton and defensive end Lukas Van Ness were both fined $11,255 for unnecessary roughness on a penalized fourth quarter play against the Eagles.
The NFL did not fine Nixon for his unnecessary roughness penalty against Saquon Barkley in the fourth quarter.