The Arizona Cardinals knew they were in for a particularly physical game when they played the Detroit Lions last Sunday.
Prior to the game, safety Budda Baker referred to the Lions as “a very violent team” and predicted it would be a “dogfight.”
There were numerous players from both teams injured in the game and it turns out that after review, the NFL levied four fines on Detroit players in the game, including two on cornerback Brian Branch. One was for the use of his helmet in the collision with tight end Trey McBride in the fourth quarter that resulted in McBride entering the concussion protocol and causing him to miss this week’s game against the Washington Commanders.
Meanwhile, Branch was limited in Detroit’s Thursday practice because of a concussion, but had full participation Friday and Saturday and has no game status for the Lions’ Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks. McBride did not participate in any of the Cardinals’ three practices this week.
There was no penalty flagged on the play, nor was there one called on two of the other plays deemed deserving of fines. All told, the four fines totaled $39,016.
No Cardinals were fined.
Here is a review of the fines and the circumstances of the plays:
Branch: $10,128
Unnecessary roughness for striking/kicking/kneeing on kicker Matt Prater’s 42-yard field goal, a play that began with two seconds remaining in the first half. Branch rushed from the right side of Detroit’s field-goal defense and made contact with who appeared to be rookie Tip Reiman. However, watching the replay, the camera went away and what happened after the initial contact could not be seen, but the league obviously saw something that caused the fine.
Branch: $10,128 (again)
Unnecessary roughness for use of the helmet on the McBride play that began at the Cardinals 20-yard line with 6:06 remaining in the fourth quarter.
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin: $11,255
Unnecessary roughness for a late hit on a 9-yard pass play from quarterback Kyler Murray to wide receiver Michael Wilson that began at the Arizona 30-yard line with 29 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Reeves-Maybin was penalized 15 yards on the play for hitting Wilson after he was tackled by Branch and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.
S Kerby Joseph: $7,505
Unnecessary roughness for a hit on a defenseless player on a 14-yard pass play from Murray to wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. that began with 9:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. Joseph was credited with an assisted tackle on the play, although it was cornerback Terrion Arnold that had Harrison on the way down when he was struck by Joseph.
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