Will NFL fine Vikings LB Jordan Hicks for hit on Brock Purdy?
The news rippled through NFL circles. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who didn’t appear to be injured Monday night in Minnesota, now is in concussion protocol. Will Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks, who apparently leveled the key hit, be fined by the NFL?
We’ll know sometime soon. The league begins informing players about the fines late in a game week, then reveals the names and fines on Saturday.
Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Wednesday that Purdy is in concussion protocol. The coach said that Purdy began suffering concussion symptoms while on the flight back from Minneapolis to San Francisco Monday night. So now the 49ers, the losers of two straight games, will face the Bengals with backup quarterback Sam Darnold. Shanahan did hold out hope that Purdy could be cleared, even in a shortened week because of MNF.
“He does have enough time,” Shanahan told reporters. “He‘s just got to go through the process.”
Team officials believe that Brock Purdy suffered the concussion in the fourth quarter, specifically on a third-and-one quarterback sneak. That’s where Jordan Hicks came in. The former Texas Longhorn linebacker met Purdy at the top of the pile. Their helmets collided.
Two plays later, Brock Purdy threw an interception. Then on the 49ers’ final possession, Purdy threw another pick. It was part of why the Vikings pulled the 22-17 upset. Purdy attempted six passes after the quarterback sneak. He completed only two to his own receivers. Yet pre-sneak, Purdy completed 19 of his 24 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown.
Earlier this month, Bears fans booed Hicks when he made a possible helmet-to-helmet hit as another teammate sacked quarterback Justin Fields. Officials didn’t flag Hicks for the play. And the NFL didn’t fine him, either.
Meanwhile, the league reviewed more than 2,200 plays after week six for potential safety violations. The league then found 36 violations.
If you’re curious, the NFL collects the fines, then donates the money to the Professional Athletes Foundation, which supports former players in need. Plus, some of the money goes to the NFL Foundation, which supports wellness of all athletes as well as youth football in communities across the country.
The Vikings return to the field this Sunday against the Packers. Meanwhile, the 49ers face the Bengals with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback and not Brock Purdy.