Austin Booker is having to cut a five-figure check after concussing Jordan Love with a hit.
The NFL announced on Saturday that it has fined the Chicago Bears defensive end Booker a total of $11,636, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Booker is being fined over two separate hits on Love during the Dec. 20 meeting between the two teams.
The most notable hit came in the second quarter. Love was dropping back to pass on a 1st-and-10 play when the pocket collapsed. Booker came rushing in from the left side and laid a helmet-to-helmet hit on Love, drawing a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness as a result.
You can see the video of the play in question here.
Love would immediately enter concussion protocol and did not return to the game, which the Bears went on to win in overtime by a final score of 22-16. Love has since been ruled out for Week 17’s game against the Baltimore Ravens as well, setting the stage for an extremely ugly quarterback matchup.
As for Booker, 23, he was Chicago’s fifth-round draft pick in 2024 (No. 144 overall). Booker has made seven starts for the Bears this season, recording 3.5 sacks, 29 combined tackles and a forced fumble.
While Booker did lead with the crown of his helmet, it appears that Love also ducked down, resulting in the helmet-to-helmet contact. As such, the fine but no suspension for Booker feels like a decently fair outcome here.
