Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Maliek Collins could face an NFL fine after roughing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Thursday Night Football.
The incident took place during Pittsburgh's opening drive in Cleveland on 1 October. Collins was penalised for roughing the passer after Rodgers completed a nine-yard pass to Michael Pittman Jr. on third-and-16.
The 15-yard penalty gave Pittsburgh a first down and helped extend a drive that eventually ended with a touchdown. Cleveland later recovered to beat Pittsburgh 27-24, moving to 3-1 and taking first place in the AFC North.
The sequence has attracted attention because Collins also recorded a sack of Rodgers on the same opening drive. However, the sack came after the roughing penalty, not before it.
Athlon Sports reported the incident, highlighting an X post from Riley Holsinger that discussed Collins' contrasting plays during the drive.
Holsinger wrote: 'Maliek Collins with some good... and some bad.' The official play-by-play confirms the two plays occurred in that order.
How the Penalty Changed the Opening Drive
The roughing penalty occurred with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter. Rodgers found Pittman Jr. for nine yards on third-and-16, but Collins was penalised for roughing the passer.
The play-by-play records the penalty as a 15-yard enforcement from Cleveland's 35-yard line. It also records two other Cleveland fouls on the same play, but both were declined.
Myles Harden was called for illegal contact, while Jared Verse was penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct. Neither declined penalty affected the result of the play.
The accepted roughing-the-passer penalty moved Pittsburgh into a new first down. Rodgers and the Steelers then continued the drive before scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson.
Collins responded moments later with a sack of Rodgers. At 6:31 of the first quarter, he brought Rodgers down for a seven-yard loss.
The Browns' official player log credits Collins with one sack, four total tackles and one solo tackle in the game. The contrasting plays help explain why the sequence drew attention.
Holsinger's X post focused on that contrast. The post did not establish that Collins would receive a fine or that the penalty would lead to additional discipline.
What a Maliek Collins Fine Could Cost
The NFL's current fines and appeals schedule lists roughing the passer at $17,911 for a first offence. The listed amount rises to $23,882 for a second offence.
The schedule does not establish that Collins is a first-time offender for this category. Therefore, $17,911 should be described only as the applicable first-offence amount, rather than as the fine Collins will receive.
The NFL's official accountability system records disciplinary fines separately from in-game penalties.
The game itself ultimately went against Pittsburgh. Rodgers completed 22 of 40 passes for 299 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as the Steelers lost 27-24.
Cleveland's defence recorded five sacks, while Denzel Ward intercepted Rodgers. The result left Pittsburgh at 2-2, while Cleveland improved to 3-1.
Rodgers had entered the game after one of his strongest performances of the season. In Week 3, he completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception during Pittsburgh's 30-27 win over Cincinnati.
The result left Cleveland alone at the top of the AFC North standings. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, dropped to 2-2 after the divisional loss.
For Collins, the incident now has two separate elements: the roughing-the-passer penalty that extended Pittsburgh's opening drive and the sack that followed later on that same possession.
Whether the roughing penalty leads to additional financial discipline is for the NFL to decide. Until the NFL publishes an official decision, any specific fine amount for Collins should be presented as a possibility, not a confirmed outcome.
