Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images

NFL Makes Punishment Decision on Justin Herbert Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jan 3, 2026 5:00 PM ET

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers are headed to the NFL playoffs despite a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 17. With the AFC West division title out of reach, Herbert is resting for the Chargers' final regular season game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

However, the Los Angeles quarterback was involved in a play in last week's game that resulted in the NFL handing out a $12,172 fine for Houston defensive end Denico Autry on Saturday.

At the 0:40 mark of the second quarter, Autry sacked Herbert on first-and-10 for what appeared to be a 14-yard loss. In order to bring Herbert down, the veteran pass rusher extended his leg, tripping the Chargers quarterback.

Denico Autry with a tripping violation on Justin Herbert pic.twitter.com/qSZXkzcHTd
— Paolo Songco (@PaoloSongcoNBA) December 28, 2025

It resulted in a 15-yard penalty after Autry was flagged for a tripping violation. Tripping is defined by the NFL as "use of the leg or foot to obstruct any opponent, including a runner."

As Athlon Sports' Paolo Songco noted, the standard punishment for tripping an opponent is a fine of $12,172 for a first offense and $17,968 for a second. After the NFL's weekly review of on-field, safety-related incidents, Autry received the lighter fine since it was his first infraction for "striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing" this season.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry (96) during the first half at SoFi Stadium.Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Autry has the option to appeal the fine. It is the third fine of his career, during which the 35-year-old has earned a combined $58.5 million with the Oakland Raiders (now Las Vegas Raiders), Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and the Texans.

Autry and the Texans take on his former team, the Colts, in Week 18 at 1 p.m. ET. Houston can still win the AFC South and earn the No. 3 seed with a win and a Jacksonville Jaguars loss on Sunday.

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

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