Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone has been hit with a significant fine for unnecessary roughness following their Week 14 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
The NFL announced on Saturday that Anzalone was fined $17,968 for actions categorized as “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing,” a rule intended to cover any type of limb-related contact deemed unsafe. The incident occurred late in the second quarter, with 6:28 remaining, while the Lions held a 10-6 lead.
On a 3rd-and-21 play, Dak Prescott completed a short pass to Jake Ferguson, who advanced four yards before being tackled by Amik Robertson and Jack Campbell. As Ferguson remained on his feet, Campbell knocked the ball free, and safety Brian Branch recovered it at midfield.
After Branch’s recovery and as teammates celebrated on the field, Anzalone joined in and, while raising his arms, inadvertently struck Cowboys rookie offensive guard Tyler Booker in the back. No penalty was called by the officials, although video footage shows Booker appearing to signal for one.
According to Spotrac, this represents the sixth fine in Anzalone’s career and his second of the season. He was previously fined $12,172 in Week 6 for fighting during a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Overall, the veteran linebacker has now accumulated $93,190 in fines. In the victory over Dallas, Anzalone recorded seven tackles, including four solo stops.
While Anzalone was the only Lion penalized financially in the game, several Cowboys players were also fined. Wide receiver George Pickens and running back Hunter Luepke were cited for unnecessary roughness, with Luepke receiving $8,537 for helmet use on the opening kickoff and Pickens fined $11,593 for a facemask penalty just before halftime. Additionally, Cowboys defensive end James Houston, a former Lions sixth-round pick in 2022, was fined $5,722 for a hit to Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s head/neck area with 8:26 left in the game.
