The NFL has fined San Francisco 49ers safety Adrian Colbert $28,075 for unnecessary roughness in last weekend's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Fine: #49ers S Adrian Colbert was fined $28,075 for unnecessary roughness vs. Dallas, Aug. 10. He lowered his head on a hit that injured #Cowboys WR Cedrick Wilson, leading to Colbert's ejection.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2019
Colbert delivered a high-impact blow on defenseless Cowboys wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. As a result, the safety was disqualified from the game and escorted off the field.
"We've just got to learn from it," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. "I saw it live, and it did seem like his helmet hit his chest, and he led with his helmet, which is a penalty. That's unfortunate he got ejected. I know his intent. It's a bang-bang play, and he's playing fast and trying to stop him on third down.
"By no means is he trying to do that but it's tough to run that fast and tackle people and keep your head back, so we've got to learn from it, we've got to coach it. But it was tough for him to get ejected there."
While defensive coordinator Robert Saleh loved the speed and intensity Colbert displayed in the game, he also saw the play and resulting ejection as a teaching opportunity.
"We're fortunate, because we had two plays exactly like that for (Antone) Exum, delivered a shoulder shot right to the chest, which is what we teach," Saleh said this past week. "You've got to do everything as a defender to make sure that you're not leading with your head and be deliberate to show the refs that you are not trying to lead with your head.
"I don't think Adrian was trying to lead with his head. I know his intent, I know the man. Being able to show why he got flagged versus why Exum did not get flagged, when really, it was the same type of play, it was great for us so we could teach them, to show them exactly where it went wrong."
