Getty Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck.
The NFL’s new helmet rule has been one of the most hot-button topics of the offseason, even leading to frustration mounting due to preseason penalties. And in the first quarter of Sunday’s Week 1 action, we saw the rule lead to its first ejection.
As Warren Sharp of Sharp Football showed, it was a big hit from Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.
First ejection of the new helmet rule comes in the first quarter of the very first Sunday.
It was certainly a big hit and looked pretty ugly at full speed. Fortunately, Luck got back up and was fine, but Williams’ day is over and it’s likely that he’ll hear from the league after this one.
This won’t be the last time we see the new rule impact the status of a player during a game, as more ejections and/or fines will surely come throughout the year.