Atlanta Falcons defensive end Cameron Thomas has been fined $8,333 by the NFL for a committing an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.
Thomas was disciplined for his "use of the helmet" in the fourth quarter of the Falcons' 35-14 victory on Thursday Night Football. The 26-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in free agency and has been a key member of their defensive line rotation thus far.
Atlanta's defense has been stellar against both the run and the pass this season. Thomas currently ranks second on the team with 1.5 sacks and is tied for first in forced fumbles with safety Xavier Watts.
The former third-round pick is on pace to shatter his previous career-high
three sacks he recorded as a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals.
#Falcons DE Cameron Thomas was fined $8,333 for his unnecessary roughness penalty (use of the helmet) in the fourth quarter against the Packers in Week 3.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) October 3, 2026
Thomas isn't the only Falcons player to be fined by the NFL this season. Last week, left tackle Jake Matthews was fined $11,941 for an unnecessary roughness (face-mask) penalty he committed in the second quarter of the team's Week 2 loss to the Panthers.
The Falcons aren't alone in receiving fines this season, as the NFL has been handing them out like hotcakes over the first month of the last few weeks.
In Week 3, another six players received major infractions, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
A total of six players were fined for “major” infractions in Week 3:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 3, 2026
🏈 Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair ($17,911 for hit on a defenseless player)
🏈 Texans LB Jamal Hill ($5,972 for illegal blindside block)
🏈 Rams S Kam Curl ($17,911 for hip-drop tackle)
🏈 Giants TE Isaiah Likely… https://t.co/tdNQ6S3C1T
The NFL surely doesn't need the money, and one might say it's somewhat hypocritical for players to be fined when they don't even have fully guaranteed contacts.
Fair or not, though, the league has all the power and that's not going to change anytime soon.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons DE fined by NFL for unnecessary roughness vs. Packers
