“NFL Cracks Down on Offensive Players for Helmet-First Contact: Lamb and Jacobs Fined Despite No In-Game Penalties”
The NFL continues to enforce stricter rules against offensive players who lower their heads to initiate contact. Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was fined $5,582 for unnecessary roughness after leading with his helmet against Baltimore Ravens defenders in Week One, even though officials did not flag the play.
Recently, Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb was also fined for unnecessary roughness in a game against the Ravens during Week Three. The league imposed a $22,511 fine on Lamb for using his helmet after securing a first down late in the first quarter, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Like Pacheco’s case, no penalty flag was thrown during the game.
Lamb is financially secure, having signed a four-year, $136 million contract with the Cowboys before the 2024 season. In 2023, the fifth-year player led the NFL with 135 receptions, totaling a career-best 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He also contributed 113 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Lamb, who earned a first-team All-Pro selection and made his third Pro Bowl last year, has already recorded 20 catches for 316 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Lamb wasn’t the only offensive player fined by the NFL. Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs received a $45,020 fine for a similar offense. During Green Bay’s Week Three game against the Tennessee Titans, Jacobs led with his helmet when colliding with defenders. Like Pacheco and Lamb, Jacobs was not penalized during the game, but the league later determined his actions amounted to unnecessary roughness and issued the fine on Saturday.
Both Lamb and Jacobs lowered their heads as defenders approached, though neither incident seemed particularly severe. It’s clear the NFL is focusing on reducing helmet-to-helmet contact by offensive players. However, for those familiar with football before 2024, these plays wouldn’t have raised much concern.
Since neither play resulted in a penalty, the fines likely came as a surprise to both Lamb and Jacobs. Moving forward, many offensive players may find themselves anxiously waiting each Saturday – the day the NFL announces fines for the previous week’s games – to see if they’ll be penalized.