New England Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu was fined for his hit on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in Week 2.
It was a fourth quarter hit that drew a flag for unnecessary roughness and a $5,620 fine from the NFL. Linebacker Matthew Judon dropped back to help out in coverage on the play, and Mapu came flying in late with a helmet-to-helmet hit to the back of Waddle’s head.
Buy Patriots TicketsThe hit wasn’t malicious, but it was clearly an illegal play. Waddle was diagnosed with a concussion, and he has already been ruled out for the Dolphins’ Week 3 game against the Denver Broncos.
The NFL fined Patriots LB Marte Mapu $5,620 for this hit on Jaylen Waddle that put Waddle in concussion protocolpic.twitter.com/2QMzCSvQSi
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) September 23, 2023
The Dolphins won’t have to wait long to see the Patriots again with both teams slated for a Week 8 meeting at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.