The Chicago Bears’ biggest win of the season came at the most opportune time.
In Saturday’s 22-16 overtime win over the division rival Green Bay Packers, the Bears not only avenged their 28-21 loss to the Packers two weeks prior, but they also put a little more distance between themselves and Green Bay in the race for the NFC North crown.
What made the win even more impressive was the fact that Chicago came back from a 16-6 lead and pulled out the win in overtime. But it didn’t come without controversy.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love left late in the second quarter after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive end Austin Booker. The incident knocked Love out for the game after going to the locker room to get evaluated for a concussion.
Booker broke his silence after the game about what happened.
“I’m just playing football, making a tackle,” Booker told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. “He ducked his head and football plays happen.
“If they want to [fine me], they can. Shoot, we’re just playing football. Whatever happens, happens. I pray for him but he’s out there on the football field just like everybody else. Injuries happen every day. Football is football.”
Booker Hit With Double Fines After Packers Game
GettyChicago Bears DE Austin Booker injured Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love
Many expected Booker to receive some sort of punishment from the NFL for injuring Love, and on Wednesday, he confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that he was actually fined twice by the league.
One $5,000 fine was for the hit that injured Love, and he got another $5,000 fine for another roughing-the-passer penalty on a separate hit on Love earlier in the game.
“I did get a fine, but we’ll see what they say on the appeal,” Booker told Phil Thompson of the Chicago Tribune.
After revealing he appealed the fines, Booker also admitted he believes the fact that Love lowered his head on the hit in which he was injured should factor into the league’s punishment decision.
“One-hundred percent,” Booker said. “The first one I’ll take full responsibility for. Like, I landed on him, I should have braced myself more. But I think the second one could definitely go both ways.”
Will Booker Change His Playing Style?
Booker is having a much more productive season than he did as a rookie.
The second-year defensive end has 29 tackles, 20 pressures, 8 hurries, 8 QB hits, 4 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 8 games this year.
While he’s tasked with getting to the passer, Booker may dial back the aggressiveness a bit after getting hit with two roughing-the-passer penalties and subsequent fines.
“I’m just a physical player, too, and I was just trying to play fast,” Booker stated. “And things happen quick and sometimes stuff happens. But the first one I can definitely make (it) not happen, because it’s a lot of (lost) field position, for sure. … But the second one, I feel like I was playing hard, playing fast and things happened how they did.”
“At the same time, I know the significance of (a 15-yard penalty), and I’m going to try to clean (it) up for next game.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bears DE Austin Booker Gets Double NFL Punishment After Injuring Jordan Love appeared first on Heavy Sports.