Saints defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd took an inexpensive shot at Justin Herbert, and Chargers middle Bradley Bozeman wasn’t having it.
With Los Angeles driving halfway via the second quarter throughout Sunday’s 26-8 victory towards New Orleans, Herbert threw a display screen move to operating again J.Ok. Dobbins. As Herbert launched the ball, Shepherd dove low at Herbert and wrapped up his proper ankle. He continued to carry on to Herbert’s decrease leg lengthy after Herbert launched the ball, then twisted his knee and dragged him to the bottom.
As soon as Herbert was on the bottom, Shepherd rolled over and continued to twist Herbert’s knee. It was a unclean play that simply may have ended Herbert’s season. Fortuitously, Herbert appeared to keep away from harm and remained within the recreation.
Bozeman was heated and instantly got here to his quarterback’s protection. He dove on prime of Shepherd to knock him off of Herbert. He then appeared able to inflict some punishment of his personal earlier than Herbert helped an official drag him off of Shepherd.
After it was all carried out, officers threw a pair of penalty flags. Shepherd was flagged for pointless roughness for a budget shot on Herbert. Bozeman was flagged for pointless roughness for shielding his quarterback — an offsetting penalty that does not fairly appear truthful.
Shepherd recklessly and unnecessarily put Herbert’s well being in danger. Bozeman did what was wanted to guard his quarterback from Shepherd.
Per the officers’ enforcement of the foundations, every of these infractions are the identical within the NFL’s eyes.
