Tampa Bay’s Whitehead fined

The NFL has fined Tampa Bay safety Jordan Whitehead $26,739 for unnecessary roughness against Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The league had said Friday that Whitehead should have been penalized for striking Mayfield in the side of the helmet during last Sunday’s 2623 overtime win for Tampa Bay.

Mayfield was sliding at the end of a 35-yard scramble when he got hit by Whitehead, who was initially penalized before the officials conferred and decided to pick up the flag — and one against Mayfield for taunting.

First-year referee Shawn Hochuli made the situation worse by incorrectly announcing Mayfield “was still a runner and therefore is allowed to be hit in the head.”

Also fined:

Cincinnati Bengals safety Shawn Williams, $20,054 for unnecessary roughness for a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Kansas City Chiefs. Williams also fined $10,026 for a Week 1 hit on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid was fined $10,026 for unnecessary roughness for his hit on Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz in Carolina’s 21-17 win.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, $10,026 for a chop block.

Dallas Cowboys guard Connor Williams, $10,026 for a chop block.

Vikings are hurting: The Minnesota Vikings have ruled out four injured starters against New Orleans on Sunday.

Linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring), left guard Tom Compton (knee), running back Dalvin Cook (hamstring) and strong safety Andrew Sendejo (groin) will not play.

Defensive end Everson Griffen took part in a full week of practice, putting him on track to play for the first time in six weeks after a hiatus for mental health treatment.

Ex-Giants star dies: Lindon Crow, the former NFL defensive back who had three interceptions for the New York Giants in the 1958 sudden-death NFL championship dubbed “the greatest game ever played,” has died at the age of 85.

Crow led the NFL in interceptions with 11 in 1956.

He played defensive back for the Chicago Cardinals from 1955-’57, New York Giants from 1958-’60 and Los Angeles Rams from 1961-’64.