Report: Broncos’ Darian Stewart Fined For Hit On WR Amari Cooper

Cooper has been in concussion protocol since the hit and is unlikely to play on Sunday against the Giants.

BY DIGIT AL

Dec 1, 2017, 12:00 AM Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:21 am

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders drops the ball as he is hit by D...

(Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Amari Cooper #89 of the Oakland Raiders drops the ball as he is hit by Darian Stewart #26 and Bradley Roby #29 of the Denver Broncos during the during the second quarter of his NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Oakland, California.

(Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

The hit on Raiders Amari Cooper by Broncos safety Darian Stewart came with a price as the league has officially fined Stewart $24,309 for helmet-to-helmet contact on Friday, per 9News in Denver.

The blow happened during Sunday’s AFC West meeting between the Broncos and Raiders in Oakland.

Big hit by Stewart and Amari Cooper was left motionless on the ground. scary…. pic.twitter.com/PdoUsRDiD5

— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) November 26, 2017

Originally, Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio said the hit was “vicious” and suggested that Stewart intentionally hit Cooper in the helmet. However, he’s walked back on his claims upon watching the film.

“In looking at it, and being honest, I think Amari did duck his head as the guy was approaching,” he said, per Mark Inabinett of AL.com. “That makes it a little harder on the defender and that was probably the one piece that I didn’t have access to prior to that comment.”

Cooper has been in concussion protocol since the hit and is unlikely to play on Sunday versus the New York Giants.

The Raiders went on to defeat the Broncos 21-14 to sit firmly in third place in the division with a 5-6 record. Denver is currently 3-8.