Shanahan: Hit on Fred Davis should have drawn penalty

(John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said the Rams should have been penalized for the hit defensive end Robert Quinn leveled on tight end Fred Davis in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at St. Louis.

With 4:45 left in the game on second and 10 from the Washington 21-yard line, Robert Griffin III attempted a pass to Davis, and the tight end plucked the ball out of the air, but before Davis took a step and fully tucked the ball, Quinn hit him in the head and sending him flying backward.

Despite protests from the Redskins, no penalty was called. But Shanahan said the non-call was the wrong move.

“Well, obviously, the flag [needed to be thrown], there’s no question about the flag,” Shanahan said. “It’s helmet to helmet. So there’s no question about the flag, but there wasn’t” a penalty called.

Davis appeared to be wobbly as he got up and made his way back to the huddle and then was taken out of the game. He later returned, but wasn’t targeted.

Shanahan said Monday afternoon he didn’t know how Davis was feeling, or if he had suffered a concussion. The coach said he needed to check with head athletic trainer Larry Hess to see if Davis needed to be monitored for concussion symptoms this week.

“I haven’t talked to Larry on that,” Shanahan said. “But looking at that hit to the head, if he’s not, he should be. That was a pretty good hit. Probably as hard a hit as you’re going to get to the head.”