NFL issues three fines for player safety fouls that count toward possible suspensions

The 2026 NFL season began with three player safety fouls that will contribute to potential suspensions. Sam Franklin of the Bills was fined $9,425 for a blindside block, Evan Williams of the Packers was fined $7,087 for a hit on a defenseless player, and Chris Johnson of the Dolphins was fined $17,911 for a hip-drop tackle. These fines are in line with a new rule implemented this year, which allows for suspensions if players accumulate three fouls in five specific player safety categories.

The three fouls mentioned above all fall under this rule, as do fouls involving horse-collar tackles and launching. If a player receives three violations of the same rule, they would face a suspension. Players have the opportunity to appeal the fines, and any player who ends the season with one violation of a rule will receive 50 percent of the fine returned to them.

Brief written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.