Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas has reportedly been hit with a $21,000 fine for the hit he made on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported on this Friday, noting Thomas intends to appeal.
Thomas hit Rudolph right under his facemask as the quarterback was being sandwiched between two defenders. The result was a terrifying scene in which Rudolph was out cold before he ever hit the ground.
The quarterback was hospitalized for his injury, but was sent home that same night to rest and recover.
Thomas has reached out to Rudolph in the aftermath to let him know the dangerous hit was not intentional: “I wanted to him to know that I didn’t do it on purpose,” Thomas said. “That’s all I wanted him to know.”
Thankfully, Rudolph is recovering and has been practicing in helmet and pads. He is in the NFL’s concussion protocol but has not yet been ruled out of playing in Week 6.