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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- CB Byron Murphy Jr.: Week 5, Horse collar tackle, $17,389
- ILB Ivan Pace Jr.: Week 7, Impermissible use of the helmet, $5,759
- EDGE Dallas Turner: Week 8, Unsportsmanlike conduct, $19,907
- ILB Blake Cashman: Week 8, Impermissible use of the helmet, $23,186
- RB Aaron Jones: Week 9, Impermissible use of the helmet, $23,186
- EDGE Dallas Turner: Week 10, Body weight, $17,389
- EDGE Dallas Turner: Week 10, Hip drop tackle, $17,389
- CB Fabian Moreau: Week 10, Use of the helmet, $17,389
- CB Isaiah Rodgers: Week 10, Hip drop tackle, $17,389
- DT Jalen Redmond: Week 11, Facemask, $5,333
- S Harrison Smith: Week 16, A hit on the quarterback: blow to the head/neck, $17,389
- CB Isaiah Rodgers: Week 17, Hit on a defenseless player, $17,389