2 Steelers defenders fined for unnecessary roughness vs. Raiders

This is becoming an expensive trend for Kwon Alexander.

We knew Kwon Alexander was a hard hitter when he came to the Pittsburgh Steelers in July. But he was just slapped with his second fine of the young 2023 NFL season on Saturday.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Alexander was fined $43,709 for illegal use of the helmet on a no-flag play.

Watching the play gives pause as to how defenders have to play not to get fined. It’s a bang-bang moment that’s tough to see in the video below, but there was helmet-to-helmet contact on runner Josh Jacobs near the end of the play.

Alexander was fined the same amount for a late hit against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. A preseason fine (same penalty) for a clean hit on Chase Edmonds was later rescinded.

This isn’t the first time a no-flag play has been later penalized. Jaylen Warren received a $48,333 fine for the same illegal-use-of-helmet penalty versus the Browns.

Per TribLive’s Joe Rutter, Miles Killebrew was also docked $13,000 for unnecessary roughness. Minkah Fitzpatrick was not fined for the two-hand touch “roughing the passer” on Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Just three games into the season, Alexander is already $87,418 lighter in the wallet.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]