Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy endured a rough outing against the Detroit Lions last week — and one particular play has caught the attention of NFL officials. The league is reportedly reviewing a hit by Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, which could result in disciplinary action.

Late in the first half, with the Vikings facing 1st-and-10 from their own 26-yard line, McCarthy released a quick pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson just before Campbell crashed through the pocket. The contact came moments after the throw, prompting officials to flag Campbell for roughing the passer due to the excessive nature of the hit.

According to the NFL rulebook, any unnecessary or avoidable contact with a quarterback in a passing motion can be ruled a personal foul. The rule specifically states that roughing the passer will be called if, in the referee’s judgment, the defender “should have known” the ball was already out of the quarterback’s hands before making contact.

Every roughing-the-passer infraction is automatically reviewed by the league office for potential fines. Campbell could be docked up to $17,389, with the NFL expected to announce its weekly disciplinary report on Saturday.

Detroit’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage, registering five sacks, five quarterback hits, and 22 total pressures on McCarthy, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Despite the penalty, Campbell remains one of the league’s top performers, currently ranked as PFF’s No. 2 inside linebacker.

Tom Brady Weighs In on Roughing the Passer Penalty

During the Fox broadcast, the booth crew debated the penalty, questioning whether the league’s current rules go too far in protecting quarterbacks. Former NFL star Tom Brady led the criticism, suggesting the rule often rewards offensive mistakes.

“I don’t like how a great defensive effort and a blown protection can turn into a 15-yard gain for the offense,” Brady said during the broadcast.

While Campbell’s hit drew a flag, many analysts agreed it lacked clear intent to injure. Still, the penalty helped extend a key Vikings drive, draining the clock and allowing Minnesota to take a halftime lead that proved pivotal in their eventual upset win.

Vikings’ Upset Keeps NFC North Race Tight

With their Week 9 victory, the Vikings (4-4) turned the NFC North race into a wide-open battle. Minnesota entered the week as 9.5-point underdogs and held just a 5% postseason chance, according to The Athletic’s playoff model. After the upset win, their playoff probability surged to 20%.

Elsewhere in the division, the Chicago Bears (5-3) currently have a 23% playoff chance and share a 5% shot at winning the NFC North with Minnesota. The Lions (5-3) still have a strong 75% chance to make the postseason and a 34% chance to capture the division title.

Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) — despite a surprising loss to the Carolina Panthers — remain the statistical favorite with an 87% chance of reaching the playoffs and a 56% chance to win the division.

With all four teams separated by just two games, the NFC North enters Week 10 as one of the league’s most competitive divisions.