The outcome of the game has already been decided, but the NFL could decide to fine Jadeveon Clowney for the hit that knocked Carson Wentz out of the NFC Wild Card game on Sunday.
According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the NFL will review the hit, but it’s unknown whether Clowney will face a fine.
The NFL is reviewing the hit by Jadeveon Clowney on Carson Wentz, source said. No final decision yet whether Clowney will be fined. Initial feeling is probably not but further discussion needed on whether he violated the lowering-the-head rule put into effect last season.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) January 7, 2020
Wentz was trying to get back to the line of scrimmage after a failed screen pass and while diving to the ground, Clowney dove and hit the Eagles franchise quarterback in the helmet with his helmet.
After the game, Clowney said the hit wasn’t malicious, and he was just trying to play fast.
“I didn’t see anything. I was just playing fast and he turned like he was running the ball, so I was trying to get him down,” Clowney said. “It was a bang-bang play. I don’t intend to hurt anybody in this league, let me just put that out there. I’ve been down the injury road; it’s not fun. My intention was not to hurt him. I was just playing fast.”
The hit took place in the first quarter, giving Wentz a concussion and knocking him out of the game in the Eagles’ 17-9 loss to Seattle.
Clowney was not penalized for his hit on Wentz and after the game, on-field officials ruled that Wentz was a runner and the helmet contact was incidental.