Clay Matthews called for garbage roughing the passer penalty

The NFL may have softened its roughing the passer penalty calls, but they still got Clay Matthews for a big one on Thursday night.

Seattle had a 1st-and-10 at the Los Angeles Rams 40 with under six minutes to go while trailing 29-24. Russell Wilson threw an incomplete pass but was hit by Matthews in the shoulder just as he had released the ball.

Clay Matthews using his shoulder to hit Russell Wilson’s shoulder is a penalty apparently. pic.twitter.com/EvVGrDT19G

— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) October 4, 2019

Matthews was flagged for roughing the passer, giving the Seahawks 1st-and-10 at the 25. The penalty instantly put Seattle in field goal range and got them close to the red zone. They later capitalized on 4th-and-goal with a touchdown pass from Wilson to Chris Carson to take a 30-29 lead.

Matthews was flagged for roughing the passer penalties so frequently last season that he called the NFL “soft” and reportedly contemplated his NFL future.