The NFL fined Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald $16,391 for his hit on Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in last week’s season-opening 30-13 Rams win, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Saturday.
If you were thinking “Oh my God,” at the thought of being punished for that amount of money, Smith had the same reaction when he saw the All-Pro tackle barreling toward him. The only difference is that he exclaimed from a place of understandable fear, considering there was not a soul in a position to stop Donald as he sped through a gap in the second quarter on Sunday:
Donald, who weighs 280 pounds, will be one of the best defensive players the league has ever seen. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had four tackles and half a sack in the opener.
Last season, while suffering from an ankle injury, he had 49 tackles and five sacks in 11 games. But he has at least 11 sacks in five of the last six seasons and led the league with 20.5 in 2018.
He is likely to evoke a terrible reaction from anyone. Smith just happened to be mic’d up. The quarterback was unable to lead the Seahawks to a first down in the game that gave us his audible reaction, as he threw the ball at the feet of rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith went 16-of-26 for 112 yards and threw for a touchdown in the loss, a 10-yarder to wide receiver DK Metcalf in the second quarter.
DK Metcalf was booked for unnecessary roughness
Metcalf led the Seahawks in the opener with 47 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. He was also cited by the league, according to a source report from Pelissero Saturday.
The NFL reportedly fined him $10,927 for disorderly conduct and unnecessary roughness after hitting Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in the fourth quarter of an NFC West matchup.
The wideout was seen on the Fox broadcast giving Witherspoon a hard shove that sent him to the turf when he wasn’t looking. Witherspoon remained and had to be evaluated by the Rams’ medical staff after the incident, which occurred on Seattle’s first drive with 4:51 left.
Metcalf was eventually assessed a 15-yard taunting penalty for exchanging words with angry players on the Los Angeles sideline.
Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday that Witherspoon suffered rib and hip bruises from Metcalf’s hit. After the game, Metcalf said “they played harder,” and blamed his lack of preparation for the loss.
Seattle plays the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday, hoping to avoid an 0-2 start for the first time since 2018.
