NFL Rumors: Chiefs, TE Peyton Hendershot Fined for Shove of Ravens' Roquan Smith

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Peyton Hendershot has received a fine for shoving Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith during last Thursday's season opener.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the NFL fined the Chiefs $100,000 and Hendershot $5,472 for the shove, which occurred after quarterback Patrick Mahomes stepped out of bounds near Kansas City's sideline in the fourth quarter.

Pelissero reported that Hendershot plans to appeal the fine.

Smith called Hendershot out for the push after the game.

"Whoever 88 is, I don't know who he is, but he better watch himself," Smith said, per Pelissero. "He did a little slick push. I'll see him when I see him."

Hendershot, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys after going undrafted out of Indiana in 2022, was traded to the Chiefs ahead of the roster cutdown deadline in August. He was inactive during the game and no penalties were assessed on the shove.

Pelissero noted that the NFL has recently ramped up efforts to keep inactive players from interacting with active opposing players from the sideline, sending out the following memo in August as a reminder:

"The Playing Rules of the National Football League, and the 2024 Policy Manual for Member Clubs -- Game Operations prohibits non-player personnel (e.g., coaches, trainers, equipment staff, security personnel) and non-participant players (e.g., inactive players, practice squad players) from making unnecessary physical contact with, or taunting or directing abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures at opponents, Game Officials, or representatives of the League. Clubs are responsible for the conduct of their players and other club personnel throughout the game day period. NFL Football Operations will enforce these policies and assess accountability measures on both individuals and clubs as appropriate, which may include ejection, fines and/or suspensions without pay."

The NFL made an example out of the Chiefs and Hendershot as it looks to reduce altercations like last Thursday's, and the league will hope the fine will lead to other inactive players on the sideline restraining themselves a bit more moving forward.