GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was fined $15,000 for his late hit against San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the teams' opener Sunday, an NFL spokesman confirmed to ESPN.com on Friday.

The hit came at the end of a Kaepernick scramble near the sideline in the second quarter of the 49ers' 34-28 victory. The play ignited a scuffle on the sideline, and 49ers tackle Joe Staley was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. The league later said Staley should not have been flagged, and he was not fined, the league spokesman said.