Indianapolis Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin was fined by the NFL for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter of the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans.
The fine was reportedly $22,511 and came on a tackle of Houston running back Joe Mixon. The hit was not flagged during the game.
#Colts LB Zaire Franklin was fined $22,511 for unnecessary roughness on this tackle of #Texans RB Joe Mixon in the third quarter of Indianapolis’ season-opening loss to Houston.
Franklin was not flagged/penalized for this tackle during the game. pic.twitter.com/axdxaBCQAX
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 14, 2024
As the Indy Star’s Joel Erickson wrote, Texans running back British Brooks received a $4,444 fine for a hit on kick returner Anthony Gould.
Franklin finished the game with one quarterback pressure, eight total tackles, and he allowed only seven yards in coverage on just two receptions.
In what was a narrow defeat for the Colts, Mixon and the Texans’ offense ran wild in that game against the Indianapolis defense, with Houston totaling 213 rushing yards, which included Mixon having 159 of them.
In particular, when Grover Stewart wasn’t on the field, was when the run defense really struggled.
This week, Franklin and the Colts’ defense will be facing Malik Willis and the Green Bay Packers. On Saturday afternoon, the Packers downgraded Jordan Love from questionable to doubtful for Sunday’s game.
As a result, many experts are predicting the Colts to win this game–although, it is certainly worth mentioning that the defense will still have to contend with a Packers’ offense that features Josh Jacobs at running back and a litany of pass-catching options.
How to go about defending Willis comes with some unknowns, but ultimately, the Colts need to put the game in his hands and not in Jacobs.
