Vikings rising star defender given news he didn’t want to hear after Christmas Day win vs. Lions

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was fined $17,389 for a hit on a defenseless player on Christmas Day win vs. Detroit Lions.

Tyler Forness NFL & College Football News Writer
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Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) breaks up a pass to New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during a game at MetLife Stadium, Dec 21, 2025, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers was fined $17,389 for hitting a defenseless player early in the third quarter on Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

St. Brown runs a speed out and catches the ball. Rodgers is playing a deep zone when he catches the pass, and crashes downhill. Instead of wrapping up, Rodgers lowers his shoulder and pops St. Brown, but he fights through it, and gets the first down.

Isaiah Rodgers fined for hit on Amon-Ra St. Brown

It didn’t appear to be an illegal hit by Rodgers, as St. Brown seemed to be turning upfield before the contact was made. However, when you look at the NFL rulebook, the fine is justified.

  1. A receiver running a pass route when the defender approaches from the side or behind. If the receiver becomes a blocker or assumes a blocking posture, he is no longer a defenseless player.
  2. A player attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player.

Rodgers was fined for the second time, and it’s the 12th instance a Vikings player received one.