ALTOONA, Pa. -- Fines from last week's action have been released and there won't be one coming for Cleveland's Jordan Elliott for his helmet-to-helmet hit to Steelers' kicker Chris Boswell last Sunday.
The hit seen below saw Elliott hit Boswell, who was rolling out as part of a fake field goal attempt. It didn't draw a penalty during a game, though with the way he hit Boswell, who was considered a quarterback in this instance, could've drawn a foul.
Elliott's tackle knocked Boswell out of the game and put him into concussion protocol. It wasn't the physical nature of the hit that was the issue it was that Elliott hit Boswell in the helmet, which should have been penalized during the game. CBS Sports' rules analyst Gene Steratore even thought it warranted a penalty.
Even though Chris Boswell is a kicker by position, on this fake field goal attempt, he is a passer. A defender cannot hit the passer forcibly in the head or neck area. IMO this should have been a 15 yard penalty for roughing in #PITvsCLE. pic.twitter.com/EXnOfledfv
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) October 31, 2021
The injury was a pivotal moment in the game as it also forced the Steelers to go for two on any subsequent score and changed the mentality on offense when in field goal range.
A move to punter Pressley Harvin would've forced quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into action as the backup holder, a situation head coach and Mike Tomlin and the team felt was not in the cards. The last thing the Steelers needed in that situation is to compound the situation by adding a potential injury to Roehtlisberger with a bad snap or kick.
Boswell had a great sense of humor for the hit and his exit from the game which took place on Halloween.
CHRIS BOSWELL / INSTAGRAM
After spending the week in concussion protocol, Boswell was cleared to play Monday by completing the necessary steps to get back onto the field. His return will be a welcome one even with veteran kicker Josh Lambo being signed to the practice squad earlier this week as an emergency option.
Boswell has been a pillar of consistency this season for the Steelers. Boswell has gone 12-for-13 on field goals this season including a career-long 56-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders. For his career, Boswell has made 88.3 percent of his field goal attempts and over the past three seasons has gone over 92 percent of his kicks.