SAN DIEGO – San Diego Chargers linebacker Dwight Freeney said he was surprised to receive a note from the league office on Wednesday informing him that he’s been fined $16,000 for what the NFL deemed an illegal hit against St. Louis Rams quarterback Shaun Hill in Sunday's 27-24 Chargers victory.

The play occurred on third-and-17 from San Diego’s 41-yard line with 2:56 left in the first quarter, as Hill completed a 19-yard pass for a first down to Stedman Bailey. Freeney was flagged for roughing the passer on the play, resulting in another 11 yards tacked on at the end of the play. St. Louis went on to score on a 22-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal.

I re-watched the play, and it’s a pretty innocuous hit by Freeney. He appears to actually try to hold up Hill after contact. However, the crown of Freeney’s helmet appears to contact Hill’s helmet on initial contact, which is where the designation of an illegal hit could originate.

Freeney said he’ll appeal the fine.

“I just came up and tried to get my head to the side and put it right in his chest,” Freeney said. “I had my head up. … He damn near was holding me up at the end of the play.”