The NFL’s helmet-use problem showed up again in Week 8, and the Cardinals-Cowboys game ended up right in the middle of it.
Seven players were fined for illegal use of the helmet on plays that were not flagged during the game, and two of those fines came from last Sunday’s Arizona-Dallas matchup. Through eight weeks, the league has handed out 46 fines for use of the helmet, but only 10 of those plays drew flags on the field.
The biggest swing came late in the first half. With 21 seconds left before halftime, Jacoby Brissett hit Bam Knight on second-and-10 from Arizona’s 36-yard line for a first down.
On the play, Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown struck Knight with his helmet, forcing a fumble that Dallas recovered at the Arizona 47. The Cowboys couldn’t cash in fully, though, as Brandon Aubrey missed a 61-yard field-goal try after a short run, leaving Dallas up 14-3 at the break.
Knight suffered a concussion and will miss Sunday’s game in Seattle against the Seahawks. His absence, along with Jeremiyah Love being placed on injured reserve, means Evan Hull will be active Sunday, and Jerome Ford was elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
The other unflagged helmet hit in the game was even stranger: it knocked the hitter out. Cowboys safety P.J.
Locke was fined $19,444 for a play with 4:34 left in overtime, when Arizona had a first down at the Dallas 31. Tyler Allgeier picked up three yards, and Locke delivered the tackle that left him concussed.
Had a penalty been called, the Cardinals would have moved to the 14-yard line and set up a much easier kick. Instead, after two more plays, Chad Ryland drilled the game-winner.
Locke did not practice on Wednesday, was limited on Thursday, then practiced fully on Friday and is expected to play at Indianapolis on Sunday.
There were also two fines in the game that were flagged in real time, one for each team. Cardinals defensive lineman L.J.
Collier was fined $8,972 for a late hit on Cowboys tackle Tyler Guyton with 8:18 remaining in regulation. The penalty came after Dak Prescott’s pass to CeeDee Lamb was held to two yards on third-and-6 at the Dallas 46, and the Cowboys used the first down to eventually reach a 35-yard field goal and go up 27-17.
Dallas defensive lineman Rashan Gary was fined $17,911 for a fourth-quarter hit that helped Arizona. On third-and-10 from the Dallas 29, Gary hit Gardner Minshew II in the head after an incomplete pass. The 15-yard penalty moved the Cardinals to the 14, and Minshew found Trey McBride for a touchdown on the next snap to trim the Dallas lead to 27-24 with 2:11 left in the fourth quarter.
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