Former Green Bay Packers edge rusher Za’Darius Smith was fined by the NFL for an uncalled roughing the passer infraction against quarterback Jordan Love during Week 14 of the 2024 season.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the league fined Smith — now a member of the Detroit Lions — $6,722 for a blow to the head or neck of Love in the first half of Detroit’s win at Ford Field.
The infraction is clear on replay. Love scrambled to his left under pressure and got the ball away, but Smith arrived just as he was throwing and made obvious contact with Love’s head. No penalty was called, and the Packers eventually punted the ball away from near midfield. The fine is admission from the NFL that the call was missed.
Before the roughing, Smith — who played in Green Bay between 2019 and 2021 — had a sack of Love on the first play from scrimmage.
The Lions defeated the Packers 34-31, strengthening their hold on the NFC North. The Packers dropped to 9-4 and are now all but out of the race in the division.
Lions offensive lineman Christian Mahogany was also fined $4,609 for unnecessary roughness on a face mask near the end of the first quarter.
No Packers player was fined in Week 14. The Packers haven’t had a player fined under the umbrella of gameday accountability since Week 7 (Ben Sims).
