Lions’ Jack Campbell Wrongly Penalized for Roughing the Passer

Detroit, MI – The Detroit Lions faced a frustrating setback during their recent game against the Minnesota Vikings when linebacker Jack Campbell was penalized for roughing the passer. The incident occurred as Campbell blitzed and nearly sacked Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who managed to complete a pass to T.J. Hockenson on a crucial third-and-5 play.

The roughing the passer call resulted in an automatic first down for Minnesota. While analysts on FOX debated the validity of the penalty, the NFL later appeared to acknowledge the call was a mistake by not issuing a fine to Campbell, a standard consequence for such infractions.

In the NFL, a roughing the passer penalty typically incurs a fine of $17,389 for first-time offenders and $23,186 for repeat offenders. Campbell received no fine, lending credence to the notion that the call was incorrect.

The officials cited the “body weight” rule, claiming that Campbell drove his full weight into McCarthy. The NFL rulebook states, “A rushing defender is prohibited from committing such intimidating acts as ‘stuffing’ a passer into the ground.” However, there is a crucial stipulation allowing defensive players to fall to the side of the quarterback to avoid landing with their full weight.

Upon reviewing the play, it is evident that Campbell made an effort to brace his fall with his arms, aligning with league guidelines on tackling defenseless quarterbacks. A clear screenshot shows Campbell attempting to avoid excessive force.

Despite the controversy, the penalty did not dramatically impact the game, as the Lions went on to intercept McCarthy shortly thereafter. Notably, no Lions players were fined following the game, with the only fine issued being to Minnesota running back Aaron Jones for a separate incident involving helmet contact.