Helmet comes off Nonrunner

[VA Official]

Originally Posted by johnyd

If the offense is running the wildcat and the quarterback fakes the dive up the middle but the defense thinks the fullback has the ball. The first defender knocks off the fullbacks helmet and linebackers are closing in.

Since we see that he is not the ball carrier, are we to hold our whistles? Where does player safety figure into this rule?

If a player loses his helmet, he's required by rule to no longer participate in the play. We don't kill this play as that would be an inadvertent whistle. If he participates, we have illegal participation (see 9-6-4g). As far as safety, if he no longer participates but is then forcibly contacted without his helmet on, I have a flagrant personal foul and the player committing the foul will be DQ'd.

Remember also that a player is required to leave for at least one down if their helmet comes off and taking a timeout can't save them, only halftime or OT intermission (see 3-5-10d). The only way they aren't required to come out for a down is if the helmet coming off is directly attributable to a foul. Directly meaning a foul with direct contact to the head or neck area. A block below the waist or block in the back with the helmet coming off still requires the player to leave the game for a down.