NFL Announces Punishment for Chiefs Tight End

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

NFL Announces Punishment for Chiefs Tight End

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Aug 31, 2026 7:19 AM ET

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs finished the 2026 NFL preseason without a win, finishing with a 0-2-1 record after a 9-9 tie against Jalen Milroe and the Seattle Seahawks. Now, the Chiefs will get ready for real NFL action in Week 1, eyeing a return to the playoffs as they open against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14.

But before the preseason finale, Kansas City nearly defeated Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in its second preseason matchup, only to fall 16-15 thanks to a late 1-yard touchdown run by Bucs running back Sean Tucker.

With 3:14 remaining in the first quarter of the Chiefs vs. Buccaneers game, Kansas City quarterback Justin Fields fumbled after being sacked by Tampa Bay linebacker Anthony Nelson, only for offensive lineman Kahlil Benson to recover it.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jake Briningstool (88) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jordan Washington (33).Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

However, during the play, Chiefs tight end Jake Briningstool, who made the team’s initial 53-man roster, was called for an illegal blindside block, which Tampa Bay declined. And following the incident, the NFL revealed that Briningstool has been fined $4,927 for his “unnecessary roughness” against the Bucs.

In the NFL, players can be fined up to $17,911 for a first blindside block offense during the 2026 season, which can increase to $23,882 upon a second violation.

Including Briningstool, 16 players were fined following week 2 of the preseason, 13 of which were for unnecessary roughness infractions. Among them was Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst, who was charged $6,985 for “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing” against the Chiefs.

Briningstool marked the first and only player for Kansas City to receive a fine in the preseason, with week 3 fines pending. He was also the second to receive a blindside block charge, with Bucs linebacker David Walker getting charged $6,254 for the same penalty in preseason week 1 against the New York Jets.

The Chiefs will open the 2026 NFL season in Week 1’s edition of “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET, with Patrick Mahomes back at quarterback

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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