Panthers expected to fine players who broke COVID rules?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers expected to fine players who broke COVID-19 protocols at least $10K?

By Erin Walsh | Last updated Dec 12, 2020 12:33 PM ET

The Carolina Panthers are cracking down on players who violated COVID-19 protocols during the team's bye week.

Carolina is expected to fine players who broke protocols at least $10,000, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

From @SportsCenter this AM, the Carolina Panthers are expected to fine players who broke Covid protocol during the bye week at least $10,000, per league source. On Monday the team placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list as some gathered outside the team facility.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 12, 2020

The Panthers placed wide receivers DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel, defensive tackles Derrick Brown and Zach Kerr, linebacker Shaq Thompson, tackle Greg Little, punter Michael Palardy and practice squad receiver Ishmael Hyman on the reserve/COVID list this week.

Fowler notes that some of those players gathered outside of the team facility during the bye week, which is prohibited under the NFL's new coronavirus protocols.

While the team plans to fine its players, the NFL also could come down hard with punishment, too. The Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints were fined $500,000 last month for breaking protocol. The New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans also were fined $350,000.

Carolina will become the second team this season to fine its own players. The Denver Broncos fined quarterbacks Drew Lock, Brett Rypien, Blake Bortles and Jeff Driskel an undisclosed amount for COVID-19 protocol violations last week.

The Panthers are set to play the Broncos on Sunday.

Erin Walsh

Erin Walsh is a Boston sports fan through and through. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bridgewater State University and currently is in pursuit of her Master's Degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Follow her on Twitter @ewalsh90

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