Sports · American Football · 1 hr ago
Malik Mustapha avoids flag for another helmet-to-helmet hit
San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha hit Washington receiver Stefon Diggs helmet-to-helmet during the opening drive of a game in Santa Clara.
Officials did not throw a flag, though the hit should have been penalized.
It was Mustapha's second straight game with an unflagged hit on a defenseless receiver; the previous one was against Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The NFL fined him $6,998 for that earlier hit, and another fine is likely for the contact with Diggs.
Under a new NFL-NFL Players Association approach to five safety violations, one more illegal hit could trigger an automatic suspension.
Because the Diggs hit came early in the game, another illegal hit against Washington would be his third violation.
San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha was not flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Washington receiver Stefon Diggs.
The hit came on Washington’s opening drive during a Monday night game in Santa Clara.
Mustapha had also avoided a flag for a hit on Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the previous game.
The league fined Mustapha $6,998 for the hit on Smith-Njigba, and another fine for the hit on Diggs was considered likely.
A further illegal hit could put Mustapha in line for an automatic suspension under the NFL-NFL Players Association approach to five safety violations.
- Who
- Malik Mustapha, a San Francisco 49ers safety, and Washington receiver Stefon Diggs.
- What
- Mustapha delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diggs, but officials did not flag it.
- When
- During Washington’s opening drive in a Monday night game; the article was published October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Santa Clara.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mustapha hit Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba during the Seahawks’ final drive and was not flagged.
The league fined Mustapha $6,998.
Mustapha hit Washington receiver Stefon Diggs on the Commanders’ opening drive, and the hit was not flagged.
- Player
- Malik Mustapha
- Team
- San Francisco 49ers
- Washington receiver
- Stefon Diggs
- Previous opponent
- Seattle Seahawks
- Previous fine
- $6,998