The NFL fined Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman $66,666 for unnecessary roughness and use of his helmet on play in Week 4.
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Perryman was slapped with the biggest fine of the 2024 season. The play that earned Perryman a sizable fine included Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt.
Hunt ran up the middle and Perryman lowered his head to directly hit Hunt on the side of the helmet. No flag was thrown on the play, indicating one of two things. The referees didn’t catch the violation or the referees didn’t believe a flag had to be thrown on the play.
However, it’s evident the on-field officials and the NFL’s disciplinary process had a contrasting view of the incident.
Perryman posted eight tackles in the Chargers’ 17-10 loss to Kansas City last week. The linebacker played 71 percent of the defensive snaps.
The league deemed Perryman’s hit worthy of the biggest fine of the year. This follows the Week 4 suspension of Chargers safety Derwin James.
Perryman was cited as a repeat offender, in the same way his teammate was.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh defended James after the news broke surrounding his one-game suspension.
“He is a shining star in every way,” Harbaugh said via the team transcript. “As a teammate, captain on this team, two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year [nominee], everything that he has done for the Chargers and the entire league, he’s a shining star, shining example. … He does not want to hurt anybody, any other player that he plays. He just wants it to be competition, that is always on his mind. He wants to do it exactly how the NFL wants to have people tackle in this game.”
It’s highly likely Harbaugh will do the same for Perryman. The Chargers head into their bye week but will return in Week 6 to face the Denver Broncos.
The Chargers will have to play the divisional matchup short one of their best defensive players.
For two Chargers players to be suspended in back-to-back weeks, it’s a clear indication the league is cracking down on the team’s defensive approach.
Perryman returned to the Los Angeles organization in the offseason. He was drafted by the Chargers in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
The linebacker returned to the franchise which he called “home.” Through four games, Perryman has 30 tackles, 22 solo tackles, and a sack.
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