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Jaguars' opening kickoff return TD nullified and two players ejected in NFL London game

A Jacksonville Jaguars kickoff return touchdown of about 90 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was called back after multiple flags. Eagles' Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jaguars' Bryan Thomas Jr. were ejected for a fight at midfield.

3 outlets · 0L · 1C · 2R First reported Account updated
Image: Fox News
Image: Newsweek
Image: IJR

1 / 3

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2The Jacksonville Jaguars appeared to return the opening kickoff of their NFL London game against the Philadelphia Eagles for a touchdown, but the play was called back after multiple flags. Mixed · 2Fox News (OutKick) reported that Eagles kicker Jake Elliott kicked 55 yards to the Jacksonville 10-yard line and Josh Cameron returned it 90 yards, the first kickoff return touchdown of the NFL season; Newsweek put the return at 91 yards. Right · 1According to Fox News, both teams were flagged on the kickoff: the touchdown was nullified because the Eagles lined up in an illegal formation and Jaguars linebacker Branson Combs was called for holding, and players from both teams were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Mixed · 2Both outlets said an official's hat ended up on the field because flags had run out; Fox said two officials threw their caps after a second foul, while Newsweek said one referee's hat was tossed because of a lack of flags. Mixed · 2Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jaguars player Bryan Thomas Jr. were disqualified for the rest of the game after a fight; Fox called Thomas a linebacker and Newsweek called him a defensive end. Mixed · 2Fox described Trotter slamming Thomas to the turf after the play and Thomas kicking up at Trotter from the ground; Newsweek said a replay showed what appeared to be a toss or takedown, that it was unclear who initiated it, and that Thomas appeared to kick at Trotter.

Mixed · 2Both outlets noted Trotter's loss hurt Philadelphia more, since Trotter was a defensive starter while Thomas is a special teams and backup player. Centre · 1Newsweek said the fight caused confusion in NFL Network's coverage because it happened while the broadcast followed the return, and that further punishment may follow. Right · 1Fox also reported that the Eagles ran from shotgun rather than using the Tush Push on a failed fourth-and-1 on their first possession, and cited a calf injury to quarterback Jalen Hurts and a reshuffled offensive line.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Newsweek leads on the ejections and fight, treating the nullified return as backdrop, with cautious hedging about what replay shows.
Emphasis
Who was ejected, the unclear origin of the fight, Trotter's stats and the teams' records and injuries, possible further punishment.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not name the specific penalties that erased the touchdown or the returner.
Charged language
“Wild Fight”“wild start”
For example
“it appears to be a toss or takedown, but it's unclear who initiated it.” — Newsweek
“the possibility of further punishment looms after the incident” — Newsweek

Right2 outlets

Framing
Fox News (OutKick column) tells it as a comic, opinionated recap, tying the chaos to a week of controversy over NFL officials.
Emphasis
The specific penalties, the returner, and the Eagles' failed fourth-and-1 without the Tush Push.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention possible further discipline or the confusion in the NFL Network broadcast.
Charged language
“Crackers”“bonkers”“giving each other the business”“hijinks”
For example
“This game was bonkers from the beginning” — Fox News
“officials – they had quite a week, by the way” — Fox News