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The NFL handed down three fines to Denver Broncos defenders for safety-related plays in the team’s Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, including a late hit involving quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Denver safety P.J. Locke ($11,593), defensive tackle Malcolm Roach ($17,389) and linebacker Alex Singleton ($23,186) were all fined, according to the NFL’s weekly “Gameday Accountability” report.
The penalties/fines came in a 34-20 loss that snapped Denver’s winning streak, with Jacksonville capitalizing on key mistakes and momentum swings.
On the play that drew a big fine for Alex Singleton, he celebrated by… pounding his helmet.
NFL Fines Broncos’ P.J. Locke, Malcolm Roach and Alex Singleton
Here’s the NFL’s list of fines for Denver from that report, including the quarter and timestamp attached to each play:
Key details
P.J. Locke: Unnecessary Roughness (late hit) — Q1, 2:44 — $11,593
Malcolm Roach: Hit on a quarterback (body weight) — Q3, 10:49 — $17,389
Alex Singleton: Unnecessary Roughness (use of the helmet) — Q3, 8:34 — $23,186
How the Plays Unfolded in the Play-by-Play
Locke (Q1, 2:44): ESPN’s play-by-play shows Jacksonville was flagged for a false start, but the play ended with a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Locke—“No Play”—with the Jaguars’ false start listed as “superseded.”
NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk summarized it as Locke not hearing the whistle and hitting Lawrence after the play was blown dead, with the 15 yards assessed to Denver. The Denver Gazette also reported Locke was still confused postgame, saying he thought he was in pursuit for a sack-fumble.
Roach (Q3, 10:49): The play-by-play at 10:49 of the third quarter shows a Lawrence pass targeting Travis Etienne that included a fumble sequence, but it was wiped out by a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty on Roach, again logged as “No Play.” The NFL’s fine report classifies the infraction as a hit on a quarterback for “body weight.”
Singleton (Q3, 8:34): At 8:34 in the third, the play-by-play lists a short Lawrence completion to tight end Brenton Strange for 1 yard, with Singleton credited on the tackle (along with Zach Allen). The fine report tags that timestamp as “use of the helmet.”
A scan of publicly available fine roundups didn’t turn up prior 2025 fines for Locke, Roach or Singleton, making the Jaguars game a notable cluster for Denver.
What It Means for Denver Moving Forward
For Denver, the fines are less about dollars and more about pressure points: avoidable penalties that extend drives (Locke), create free yardage on QB-contact calls (Roach), or bring helmet-use scrutiny (Singleton) at the worst time of year.
The Jaguars turned the Locke sequence into real momentum. Jacksonville’s ensuing drive ended in a Lawrence touchdown pass to Parker Washington. And Roach’s third-quarter flag came during a stretch where Jacksonville was building separation after halftime.
Even if none of the fines changes the standings, Denver will want these cleaned up fast, officials and the league are ruthless on QB contact and helmet-use this time of year.
The next question: Will any of the three fines be appealed and reduced/rescinded?
Can the Broncos Players Appeal the Fines?
Yes. The NFL’s Football Ops page notes players can appeal, with cases heard by jointly appointed appeals officers and former players, and those decisions are “final and binding.” The same page also says fine money is donated to charitable causes tied to player support and football initiatives.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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