Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson will not be suspended for his part in Sunday’s fight with Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan, a Houston television station reported Monday.
However, Johnson will be fined by the NFL, according to FOX 26 in Houston.
Had Johnson been suspended for Thursday’s game against the host Philadelphia Eagles, the Texans would have been forced to push up the role of fourth-year wide receiver Jacoby Jones , who dropped to No. 4 on the depth chart. The Titans’ No. 3 receiver, David Anderson, did not play against Tennessee because of a hamstring injury.
Sunday’s fight came with 7:39 remaining in the game and the Texans leading 17-0. Johnson, who was being covered by Finnegan, engaged as soon as the ball was snapped.
Finnegan pushed up Johnson’s facemask, and the Texans wideout responded by aggressively ripping Finnegan’s helmet off by the facemask.
Johnson threw at least two punches to Finnegan’s head and neck before the cornerback tore off the receiver’s helmet in retaliation. Teammates and officials intervened, preventing both teams from turning the fisticuffs into a full-fledged melee.
The game was halted for more than five minutes while officials sorted through the incident. Both players were ejected. The Texans went on to win 20-0.
Johnson and Finnegan have had issues with each other in the past. In a Week 2 matchup in 2009, Johnson was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for taking Finnegan to the ground by the facemask after the play had ended.
By Adam Caplan & Nancy Gay contributed to this report.