newsweek
The NFL has levied fines against two Chicago Bears players for separate rule violations that took place during the team's Week 7 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the league announced on Saturday. Rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas was fined $6,901 for unnecessary roughness, while defensive lineman Austin Booker received a $6,457 fine for the same infraction.
Both incidents were flagged in the second quarter of the Bears' 27-24 victory. Thomas drew a penalty for throwing a punch at Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish. Booker, on the other hand, was not penalized during the game for a late hit on quarterback Baker Mayfield, but the league subsequently fined him for using his helmet on the play.
Following the game, Bears head coach Ben Johnson appeared to confirm that Thomas was benched as a result of his actions. "Yeah, I don't know that he played on offense after that," Johnson told reporters. Thomas, a third-round pick in this year's draft out of LSU, has appeared in nine games this season and has recorded seven receptions for 54 yards.
Despite the discipline, Johnson had previously praised Thomas's potential. After a preseason game against the Titans, the coach noted, "He's had a knack for making some big plays throughout. Got sidetracked a little bit with the injury, but to get him back out there and get him a taste of real football, I thought that was huge. Don't want all that production to go to his head, necessarily. He's still got a long ways to go, and he knows that. He understands that. Coach (Antwann) Randle El and Isaiah Ford, they're on him constantly just to make sure he is getting the details down that we need to have success in this offense. But it was a good start."
Booker, now in his third season with Chicago, has been a steady contributor on defense. Through nine games, he has totaled 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, and five sacks. The Bears selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Kansas. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower spoke highly of Booker earlier this month, saying, "Austin Booker plays hard, man. He's played hard for us for a long time on special teams and on defense, and I'm glad that he's starting to reap some of the benefits of the things he does in the dark. I am proud of him. I think what we try to do more than anything is see where we can gain an advantage with the strengths of our players. And I think they did a really nice job – our players did – and I think they're a really good unit."
Key Analysis
The fines underscore the NFL's ongoing emphasis on player safety and sportsmanship, particularly regarding helmet use and physical altercations. For the Bears, the financial penalties are compounded by the potential loss of Thomas's services during the game, as he saw limited action after the penalty. The incident serves as a learning moment for the rookie, while Booker's fine highlights the league's strict stance on hits to the head, even when not flagged on the field.
Originally reported by newsweek.