The NFL did not approve of the hit from Houston Texans rookie Calen Bullock that put Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose in the hospital.
The league announced a pair of $5,916 fines for the Texans safety on Saturday, one for a hit in the first quarter against the Dolphins and one for the DuBose hit. Both were for unnecessary roughness, the first being defined as “use of the helmet” and the second for a “hit on a defenseless player.”
The latter hit, which was immediately flagged, resulted in DuBose being carried out of the game motionless and secured on a stretcher.
DuBose was subsequently hospitalized, but reported to have movement in all his extremities. The Dolphins ended his season by placing him on injured reserve earlier this week.
After the game, Bullock said he wasn’t concerned about discipline from the NFL because he didn’t intend to hurt DuBose:
“My intention was never to go out there and hurt nobody,” Bullock said. “That’s none of our intention. Prayer to him and his family. I hope he’s good. I just seeing the ball and I was just breaking on the ball. It just happened to be one of those types of plays.”
The Texans selected Bullock in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, picking him up after a first-team All-Pac-12 season with USC. Through 14 career games, he has 44 combined tackles, 10 passes defended and five interceptions for a Texans defense that ranks fourth in total defense and second in turnovers.
