The league offices of the NFL finally got around to levying their final punishments from Week 5's activities (meaning "games") and one member of the Kansas City Chiefs was hit with a major fine for an unsportsmanlike exchange against the New Orleans Saints.
Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton enjoyed another strong performance against the visiting Saints in Week 5 as the Chiefs upped their record to 5-0—one of two undefeated teams left in the league (along with the Minnesota Vikings). However, a player has to keep his emotions in check or he can expect to be hit with a fine for shoving another player.
In this instance, Saints interior lineman Lucas Patrick was the one being shoved. You can see the inciting incident here:
The NFL fined #Chiefs DT Tershawn Wharton $11,817 for unnecessary roughness — smacking #Saints OL Lucas Patrick in the facemask last week. pic.twitter.com/aIPFrE2qUV
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 12, 2024
The NFL fined Turk Wharton for shoving a Saints lineman in the face during Week 5.
Wharton, who is enjoying a banner season in his fifth year in the NFL, matched his season-high 4 pressures against the Saints with three hurries and one sack, per Pro Football Focus. For the season, PFF credited him with 15 pressures and 2 sacks, while official NFL totals have him at 10 pressures and 1.5 sacks. Considering his career high was 8 pressures before now, the Chiefs will take either total.
The Chiefs re-signed Wharton this spring to a one-year deal after his rookie contract ran out, and he's been one of the team's bigger bargains so far in 2024 for a defense looking for new playmakers to emerge alongside Chris Jones up front. While no one expected this from Wharton, maybe we should have seen it coming knowing he was that much further from a significant leg injury two years ago—a torn ACL.
Along with the fine, at least Wharton can enjoy some down time with the Chiefs on their bye in Week 6. They'll return to action against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7.