Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

NFL Announces Punishment for Eagles Defensive Captain

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Dec 8, 2025 3:28 PM ET

Ahead of the "Monday Night Football" game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14, the NFL announced its weekly roundup of fines.

Saturday's list of punishments from Week 13 included Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. The 26-year-old defensive back is a returning member of last year's team that won Super Bowl LIX. He was voted as a team captain for the first time this season, joining star quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley in the exclusive group.

Blankenship put up one of his best individual efforts of the 2025 season in Philadelphia's 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 28. His 14 combined tackles were the most in a single game in his four-year NFL career — but one of them was dangerous enough to earn Blankenship a hefty fine.

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) during the fourth quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field.Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

With 5:14 remaining in the first quarter of the game against the Bears, Blankenship made the stop on a 1st and 10 run by Bears RB Kyle Monangai. No flag was thrown on the play, but it was reviewed by the league and identified as a hip-drop tackle.

Before last season, the NFL's 32 teams voted unanimously to ban the hip-drop tackle, which results in injuries 20 times more frequently than other techniques. The NFL's definition of a hip-drop tackle is "when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs during the tackle."

This is why they banned the hip drop tackle. Too many injuries. pic.twitter.com/b3QNrVCUr4
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 14, 2025

Blankenship was fined $10,250 for the illegal hit. It was the third fine of his career and his first since the 2023 season. He will have the opportunity to appeal the decision if he chooses.

A former undrafted free agent, Blankenship will feel the fine more than many higher-paid players. He is on a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Eagles that is worth more than half of his career earnings of $5.9 million.

After Monday night's clash with the Chargers, the defending champions will have four games left in the regular season left to try to solidify their NFC playoff position. They will play the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, followed by games against the Washington Commanders (twice) and Buffalo Bills.

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

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