Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

NFL Makes Punishment Decision After Jalen Hurts Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Oct 4, 2025 5:27 PM ET

Key Points:

Jalen Hurts leads Eagles to 31-25 win over Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers in Week 4
Bucs safety Tykee Smith avoids NFL fine for late hit on Hurts during third-quarter scramble
Two Eagles players fined for separate infractions following Week 4 victory over Tampa Bay

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles continued their hot start to the 2025 NFL season, taking down Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-25 in Week 4. Hurts had one of his better passing games of the season, completing 15-of-24 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 62 yards on the ground.

With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter and the Eagles up by nine, Hurts attempted to scramble out to his left, picking up two yards before sliding down. However, Bucs safety Tykee Smith leaned into Hurts and hit the quarterback during the slide, leading to an immediate flag. However, the officials later decided to pick up the flag, taking the penalty away.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts before action against the Los Angeles Rams© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The NFL typically fines players $11,593 for a first late-hit offense, with the amount increasing to $17,389 for a second. However, in this case, the league chose not to fine Smith for his hit on Hurts.

While Smith wasn’t fined, two other players from the Eagles-Buccaneers game were. Philadelphia cornerback Cooper DeJean was fined $11,593 for taunting, and linebacker Jalyx Hunt was penalized twice, $6,834 for a hip-drop tackle and another $6,834 for a blindside block, bringing his total Week 4 fines to $13,668.

PHEW! Refs threw a flag for a late hit on Jalen Hurts but then picked it up after talking. pic.twitter.com/YlrZvehoWV
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 28, 2025

Only two other late hit fines have been handed out in 2025, both coming in Week 1. Steelers star tight end Connor Hayward was fined $6,327, while Titans linebacker James Williams was charged $5,457.

Up next for Hurts and the Eagles, a Week 5 battle against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos.

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

More must-reads: