Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NFL decides not to punish Jets defender for illegal move that injured Panthers QB Bryce Young in Week 7

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated Oct 25, 2025 6:39 PM ET

The Carolina Panthers are getting prepared for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills and all eyes will be on veteran backup quarterback Andy Dalton filling in as the starter for Bryce Young, who injured his right ankle in the Week 7 win against the New York Jets.

Young still has not officially been ruled out for Sunday's game and the team planned to get a final look at his progression on Saturday before making the final call on the inactives list.

Yet, one other question remained regarding the play that injured the Panthers' starting quarterback. On the play, Young attempted to scramble out of the pocket but had his right ankle stepped on by Jets defensive lineman Jowon Briggs, a move that could have been penalized for tripping.

"Live it didn't look like it. As you replay and replay, he put his foot out there to get him down," Panthers head coach Dave Canales explained during the week. "That could constitute as a foul. I just thought live, looked like Bryce was just trying to get away and they kinda tripped up on each other. So, I didn't really see any malice that way. That's kinda my thoughts on it."

On play when Bryce Young injured, Dave Canales said in watching the replay Jets DT Jowon Briggs’ sack could have been a tripping penalty. pic.twitter.com/THPpJsh86o
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 22, 2025

In real time, it was an easy call for officials to miss, something that happens more often than you'd think. Which is why the NFL takes another look at each game for any infractions that might have been missed to issue proper accountability. Even after that, no accountability was made.

Bryce Young says he’s not a ref, not for him to say if Jowon Briggs should have been flagged on his sack that resulted in Bryce getting injured. pic.twitter.com/f7mCmRFS0x
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 23, 2025

NFL did not fine Jowon Briggs on the play that injured Bryce Young

Briggs was not fined by the NFL on Saturday after the final review of the play. The likely fine that would have been used would have been for unnecessary roughness (striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing) with a first offense amount up to $12,172.

Since Briggs was not fined, we can finally put all of the speculation to rest regarding his intentions when it came to sticking out his leg.

However, one member of the Panthers did get fined by the league. Edge rusher D.J. Wonnum was fined $17,389 for a hip-drop tackle that occurred during the second quarter of last week's game. Wonnum was one of five players around the league to get fined for a hip-drop tackle, an illegal tackling move the league has been cracking down on the last two seasons.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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