Eagles' Saquon Barkley Gets Largest Fine of NFL Week 2 for Lowering Helmet vs. Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley received a $46,371 fine for unnecessary roughness after lowering his helmet on a Week 2 collision with Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner.

The hit took place with 10:32 remaining in the second quarter of the Eagles' 20-17 road win over the Chiefs last Sunday.

Barkley's penalty marked the largest fine handed out to any player in Week 2, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones noted.

Barkley did not receive a penalty after the play, on which the Eagles gained six yards. The Philadelphia drive ultimately stalled out and ended in a punt.

He finished out the game with 22 carries for 88 rushing yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry and recording a touchdown.

This is not the first time Barkley has received a hefty fine for use of his helmet despite not being flagged on the play in question.

The Eagles running back was previously assessed a $45,020 fine last season for leading with his helmet after another non-flagged run in a Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Barkley said at the time he felt he shouldn't have been fined because he was "bracing myself and getting ready for contact" with a defender already in front of him on the play, per NJ.com's Bob Brookover.

The NFL introduced new rules preventing players from lowering their helmet before making contact with an opposing player ahead of the 2018 season.

The current league rulebook states that any player who "lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent" should be assessed a 15-yard penalty.

The NFL levied 19 total fines after Week 2 of the 2025 season. Barkley was the only player to receive a penalty of more than $20,000.

The most significant fines outside of Barkley's went to the Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Van Noy, Los Angeles Chargers' Derwin James and Pittsburgh Steelers' Patrick Queen, who were each charged $17,389 after Week 2. Van Noy and Queen were cited for hits on the quarterback, while James was fined for a leg whip tackle.