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Jadeveon Clowney drew the ire of Eagles fans during the wild card round when he forced Carson Wentz out of the game with a concussion, having fallen on him as Wentz tripped forward during a Bradley McDougald sack.
Clowney was not flagged on the play, but he was booed relentlessly by Philadelphia fans throughout the game and some demanded a suspension. After the game, referee Shawn Smith explained the decision not to flag Clowney, saying it was a matter of “incidental helmet contact.”
Referee Shawn Smith, when asked by a pool reporter about Clowney's hit on Carson Wentz: "He was a runner and he did not give himself up. We saw incidental helmet contact, and in our judgement we didn't rule that to be a foul."
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) January 6, 2020
Unsurprisingly, Clowney made it clear that an injury to Wentz was not his intention, which was clear in real time.
Here's Clowney's response: "It was a bang-bang play. I don’t intend to hurt nobody in this league." pic.twitter.com/wVEdtlcWBW
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) January 6, 2020
A suspension was always unrealistic, but a fine was certainly possible. Though the official at hand did not deem it a flag, he himself said it was helmet-to-helmet contact. However, this week came and went, and on Friday it was reported there would be no fine for Clowney.
Seattle’s Jadeveon Clowney was not fined for Sunday’s hit on Carson Wentz, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 11, 2020
The Seahawks defensive end continued to manage his core injury throughout the week, but is expected to play in Seattle’s divisional round game against the Packers.