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Anthony Richardson received a hefty fine from the NFL on Saturday.
The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was fined $22,511 for unnecessary roughness after lowering his helmet and making contact with Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch while running with the ball during the Lions’ lopsided 24-6 win over the Colts in Week 12 (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).
It’s the first time Richardson has been fined during his brief career, per Spotrac.
The 22-year-old finished 11-of-28 for 172 yards in the loss, adding 61 rush yards on 10 attempts. He was not penalized for the collision with Branch at the time it occurred.
Per the NFL’s fines and appeals schedule, the impermissible use of a helmet to make contact with an opponent results in a $22,511 fine for a first offense and $45,020 following a second offense. It’s the most costly first offense of any infraction under the player safety section of the schedule.
Richardson is only the second quarterback this season to incur an impermissible use of helmet fine, as Dallas Cowboys passer Trey Lance was also fined $22,511 in Week 10 (via Spotrac).
It’s been a tumultuous sophomore season in the NFL for Richardson, whose rookie year came to an end in Week 5 due to a shoulder injury.
He was Indianapolis’ starter to open his 2024 campaign, but he was eventually benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco after the team sat at 4-4 through eight games. The change didn’t work, as the Colts lost two consecutive contests with Flacco under center before going back to Richardson.
On the season as a whole, the former Florida standout has completed 47.1 percent of his throws for 1,402 yards and five touchdowns compared to seven interceptions.