The Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday night in Week 9, despite committing five turnovers. Cairo Santos secured the victory with a 38-yard field goal as time expired, giving Chicago its fourth consecutive win and sending the team into its bye week with a 7-2 record.
The win was costly for two Bears players. The NFL fined rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas $6,901 for unnecessary roughness involving striking, kicking or kneeing. Defensive end Austin Booker was fined $6,457 for unnecessary roughness involving use of the helmet. Both incidents took place in the second quarter.
## Zavion Thomas’ Penalty Had Major Consequences
With Chicago leading 14-3 and facing first-and-goal at Tampa Bay’s 8-yard line, Thomas blocked Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish, then swatted at Parrish’s helmet after the whistle. The penalty moved the Bears back to the 21-yard line.
On the next play, quarterback Caleb Williams was intercepted by Keonte Scott, who returned the ball 23 yards. Thomas’ penalty changed the down-and-distance situation before the turnover.
Head coach Ben Johnson was asked whether he spoke to the rookie about the play. “Yeah, I don’t know that he played on offense after that,” Johnson said. Thomas remained involved on kickoff returns but did not take another offensive snap.
It was a difficult game for Thomas even before the penalty. A holding penalty on D’Marco Jackson erased what would have been a 92-yard kickoff-return touchdown by the rookie. Through nine games, Thomas has six catches for 41 yards.
## Austin Booker Fined for Helmet Use
Booker’s violation occurred with 30 seconds remaining in the first half, as Tampa Bay drove for Chase McLaughlin’s 21-yard field goal. Booker was also flagged for a facemask while sacking quarterback Baker Mayfield in the fourth quarter, but the league did not fine him for that penalty.
The fine adds to a history of costly penalties for the third-year pass-rusher. Booker was fined four times for unnecessary roughness in 2025, including twice in a Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers. During the playoffs, he received a $46,371 fine for using his helmet while sacking Packers quarterback Jordan Love—the Bears’ largest fine of that season.
Booker has continued to make an impact on the field. Against Tampa Bay, he disrupted several runs and recorded a third-down sack of Mayfield in the second half. It was Booker’s fifth sack of the season, leading the team and exceeding his previous season total by half a sack.
