The fine comes amid Seattle’s tense conclusion to the game. Mustapha’s hit occurred as Jaxon Smith-Njigba attempted to make a catch against cornerback Renardo Green. The pass fell incomplete, and Smith-Njigba briefly left the field before returning one play later. Seattle, trailing 32-29 and at midfield, needed only a field goal to force overtime. Smith-Njigba came back but dropped a pass near the 25-yard line, potentially extending the drive. While it’s not proven that Mustapha’s hit caused the drop, the NFL confirmed that the initial hit warranted a fine even though no flag was thrown on the play.
Smith-Njigba had a strong game overall, finishing with 102 receiving yards and a touchdown against San Francisco.
The league’s action follows another officiating discussion tied to Seattle’s late sequence. On Seattle’s final offensive play, facing fourth-and-10, Sam Darnold connected with Cooper Kupp near the sideline. Kupp appeared to lunge for the first down, but officials ruled he stepped out of bounds before gaining the necessary yardage. The ruling stood after a replay review, preserving San Francisco’s possession and ending Seattle’s comeback bid. Replay angles had sparked debate over whether Kupp had actually reached the marker before going out of bounds.
Seattle’s head coach commented briefly on the decision after the game, saying the team had to live with the call. Mustapha’s fine relates to a separate play and does not alter the outcome of the Kupp ruling, but it adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Seattle’s final drive.
This latest development follows a 17-14 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos two days earlier, leaving Seattle at 3-3. The Seahawks have been close in several games, all coming down to the final possession, and the loss to San Francisco is particularly impactful given the division rivalry and the 5-0 record the 49ers have since that win.
The NFL’s new punishment confirms that one hit against Seattle’s top receiver drew league scrutiny, even as the fourth-down decision on Kupp remains a separate controversy.
