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Will Bryan Thomas Jr. Be Suspended After the London Brawl? What the NFL Could Decide This Week
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- Will Bryan Thomas Jr. Be Suspended After the London Brawl? What the NFL Could Decide This Week
Bryan Thomas Jr.'s first trip to London lasted one play. The Jacksonville Jaguars rookie and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were both ejected after a fight on the opening kickoff Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and now the former South Carolina standout is waiting to hear from the league office.
So, will Thomas be suspended? Probably not. Nothing reported so far points to a suspension, and the NFL has handled first-time fighting incidents like this one with fines rather than lost games. Thomas should be available when the Jaguars face the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, but the league still has to weigh in.
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What happened on the opening kickoff
Sep 27, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. (57) warms up before a game against the New England Patriots at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Thomas and Trotter got tangled up away from the ball during the first kickoff of the game. Trotter took Thomas to the ground, and Thomas kicked back before players and officials pulled them apart. Both were tossed before Jacksonville ran its first offensive snap.
Not everyone agreed with the call. Plenty of fans watching the broadcast thought Thomas' ejection was harsh for what amounted to a shove with his legs, and some argued the officials had already lost control of the play.
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What the NFL could decide this week
A fine is the likeliest outcome. Under the NFL's 2026 fine schedule , a first-time fighting offense costs $41,907. Striking or kicking an opponent carries a separate $12,537 fine, which could apply to Thomas because of how the scuffle ended.
The league typically announces fines for the previous week's games by the weekend, so Jacksonville should know where things stand before Sunday. A suspension would usually require a more dangerous act or a history of similar incidents.
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What it means for the Jaguars
The Jaguars won the game 19-17 even without Thomas, and they need their depth more than ever after losing left tackle Anton Harrison to knee surgery . Having Thomas available for a division game against Houston matters for a 4-1 team trying to build a cushion in the AFC South.
The bigger lesson is for Thomas himself. Rookies get little benefit of the doubt from officials, and a second incident would put him in repeat-offender territory, where the fines double and the conversation about suspensions gets more serious. Expect the Jaguars to make that point clear this week as they prepare for their second straight game in London.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
