Malik Mustapha avoids another flag for hit on defenseless player, but a second fine is likely

Published October 19, 2026 08:43 PM For the second straight game, 49ers safety Malik Mustapha has avoided a flag for an illegal hit on a defenseless receiver. For the second straight week, Mustapha likely will be fined.Against the Seahawks, Mustapha applied a helmet-to-helmet hit on Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba during the Seahawks’ final drive of the game. If caught by the officials, Seattle would have had a first down on the San Francisco 35, down three points with 1:09 to play.Mustapha was fined $6,998 by the league office.On the opening Commanders drive during Monday night’s game in Santa Clara, Mustapha applied an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit on Washington receiver Stefon Diggs. It was not flagged.As explained on the main ESPN broadcast, it should have been. And it likely will draw another fine. If/when fined again, Mustapha will be one more illegal hit away from an automatic suspension, under the new NFL-NFL Players Association approach to five specific safety violations.And, technically, Mustapha is already in line for a suspension. With the second violation coming so early in the Week 6 game, another one during the game against the Commanders will be No. 3.