NFL reviewing Fletcher Cox hit on Joe Staley for potential suspension [updated with All-22]

Fooch’s update No. 2: And we have an even better angle from Eagles 247. It’s still not everything, but it’s a little more to look at.

Fooch’s update: James Brady got All-22. You see Staley and Cox engaged, at which point Staley goes to the ground. At the end of the GIF, we see a close-up that shows Cox’s hands up near Staley’s face. Cox disengages and raises his hands as Staley goes down.

The San Francisco 49ers have lost left tackle Joe Staley for at least a few weeks with an orbital fracture. He suffered the injury on the interception return late in the second quarter. Following the play, Staley was seen staring down the Eagles sideline. After the game, there was talk of a cheap shot by Fletcher Cox, which Staley confirmed Monday morning to 49ers beat writers.

Now, the NFL is looking into the play. Adam Schefter is reporting the NFL is reviewing the play to decide on potential discipline, up to and possibly including a suspension. The NFL could decide there was nothing overly illegal, but we’ll have to wait and see.

The broadcast of the game offered replays of the interception, but did not show Staley taking a hit from Fletcher Cox. We went back and watched the live footage, and you can just make out a little bit of what happened. As you can see below, at the bottom center of the screen, Staley goes down and Cox holds up his hands to make it seem like it was incidental contact.

However, we can’t see exactly what led up to the play. It sort of looks like he and Staley are engaged and Staley is turned around during that, but it’s not clear. The NFL releases All-22 footage on Game Pass on Tuesday or Wednesday, so we’ll keep an eye out for that. I imagine the league already has access to that for purposes of reviewing this play.