Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman received the NFL’s largest fine of the season for his hit on Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt last Sunday.
A 10-year veteran, Perryman was fined $66,666 on Saturday for “unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet),” per the NFL.
On the play, Hunt took a handoff and ran up the middle and was drilled in the side of the helmet by Perryman, who lowered his head before delivering the blow. Perryman was not penalized on the play.
Perryman, 31, has 30 tackles, including one sack, in starting all four games for the Chargers (2-2).
A second-round pick of the Chargers in the 2015 draft, Perryman made the Pro Bowl in 2021. In 112 games (92 starts), he has 692 tackles, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 15 pass breakups.
He played for the Chargers with the exception of the 2023 season, when he started 11 of 12 games for the Houston Texans and also served a three-game suspension without pay for repeated violation of player safety rules.
Perryman’s teammate, safety Derwin James, was suspended for last Sunday’s game against the Chiefs for delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Pittsburgh Steelers the previous week.
