DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans are locked in competition against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17, but fallout from their Week 16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders looms large. Specifically, the NFL took additional interest in a play involving Texans running back Jawhar Jordan.
Jordan did not have the same kind of head-turning performance that he did in Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals.
However, the play that drew the NFL’s attention did.
NFL Punishes Raiders DT Thomas Booker Over Texans RB Jawhar Jordan
GettyJawhar Jordan #26 of the Houston Texans carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals.
According to the NFL’s Gameday Accountability portal on December 27, the NFL fined Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker $5,722 for “unneccessary roughness” for a “facemask” on Jordan during the Texans’ win.
During the fourth quarter of the contest, Jordan took a handoff from Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
The Raiders stuffed it, bringing up a third-and-long situation.
Booker, though, had grabbed Jordan’s facemask while the tailback was behind the line of scrimmage. Officials did not throw any flags despite Jordan’s protest after the play, which turned into a conversation with his coaches on the sideline.
Texans right tackle Trent Brown was injured during the play, and he missed the contest. Jordan was fine, but left dissatisfied with the play.
Booker, who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, drew the game’s only fine.
Jordan finished the win over the Raiders with 53 yards on 15 carries, matching his workload but not his 101 yards on the ground from his debut. The second-year former seventh-round draft pick, Jordan, earned a spot on the Texans’ 53-man roster and rotation with his first showing.
Texans Avoid NFL Fines
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans reacts against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Texans and Chargers played a clean game, in that none of the penalties that were called figured to result in fines. It is a notable non-development, given they have been frequent recipients of discipline from the NFL this season.
Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai received a fine after Week 15. Wide receiver Nico Collins was as well, following Week 13.
Before that, the Texans had gone three weeks without a fine.
That one was on cornerback Kamari Lassiter in Week 10. Azeez Al-Shaair and Xavier Hutchinson in Week 9, Derek Stingley Jr. in Week 7, Al-Shaair in Week 4, and Christian Harris in Week 2 preceded him.
Booker’s fine is also further evidence of the NFL’s willingness to dock players even on plays that did not draw flags in games.
Texans TE Dalton Schultz Could Hear From League
GettyDalton Schultz #86 of the Houston Texans warms up before taking on the Carolina Panthers.
With the incident involving Jordan as a backdrop, Texans tight end Dalton Schultz could hear from the NFL over a play that drew a flag during a critical road matchup against the Chargers in Week 17.
Schultz caught a pass from Stroud and was on the ground after being tackled.
Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart came in as the play was ending, hitting Schultz in the head. The veteran pass-catcher took offense to that act.
Schultz pushed Tart, who fell to the ground as officials flagged the play. It cost the Texans 15 yards. A third-and-short situation became a third-and-long. Jordan and the Texans’ offense were unable to overcome.
The Texans led 14-3 at halftime.
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