The Detroit Lions were victorious over the San Francisco 49ers with a 40-34 win on Monday Night Football, but three players will feel the impact of the game beyond just the scoreboard. According to NFL Football Operations, the league has fined three Lions players for unnecessary roughness penalties incurred during the game.

Here are the details of the fines:

• Terrion Arnold was fined $11,817 for unnecessary roughness related to striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent at the 9:06 mark.
• Brian Branch received a fine of $10,128 for unnecessary roughness due to the use of his helmet at the 8:22 mark.
• Kerby Joseph was fined $7,505 for unnecessary roughness at the 9:06 mark, although the exact infraction was not specified.

Despite these penalties, the Lions managed to secure the crucial win, but these fines serve as a reminder of the high cost that sometimes comes with aggressive play on the field.

Jauan Jennings fined $11,817 for unnecessary roughness penalty in Week 17

Jauan Jennings is one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league, and that can carry some hefty fines. The San Francisco 49ers pass catcher was fined $11,817 for his unnecessary roughness penalty during the 49ers’ 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions last Monday.

The play in question involved Jennings getting tangled up with Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold. To summarize, Jennings took Arnold for a ride through the end zone and the whistle. Things ended with Arnold on his back near the barricade. As Jennings stood up (pushing himself off Arnold), Lions safety Kerby Joseph came over and shoved Jennings over the barricade into the seats. Arnold followed, getting to his feet and slapping Jennings across the helmet.

Kerby Joseph and Jauan Jennings were both called for personal foul penalties after the whistle on this play.#DETvsSF | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/HwBbWGhdd8

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 31, 2024

While only Joseph was flagged during the game, both he and Arnold were fined after the act.

The best way to describe all of this is that scene in The Blind Side where Michael drives someone off the field and gets a flag for “excessive blocking.” I’ve seen many saying Jennings never should have gotten a flag. Unfortunately, the whistle did blow, and the way Jennings got up didn’t look the most sportsmanlike. I’m biased, and I’d probably throw it on the Lions’ defenders because of the extracurricular activity at the end, but I see why the flags came out.

My big issue is that it seems like Arnold also didn’t get flagged. From what I watched, Joseph got nailed for the shove. This is another reason the NFL could stop the game, review who did what, and issue the flags accordingly. But no, that makes too much sense, even though the NBA does it. Arnold slaps Jennings right behind the referees in a move that makes a WWE heel wrestler green with envy.

Regardless, that may be a fine well worth it for Jennings, who shows he’s going to block just as well as he’s going to convert third downs. It might have been a penalty, but I’d keep that on career highlight reels anyway. It sometimes costs something to be good at your job.