Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith got hit with a big fine ahead of his first playoff game on Sunday afternoon. It was revealed on Saturday he was fined by the league for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 17.

"Bears LB Roquan Smith was fined $20,054 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Vikings QB Kirk Cousins last week," tweeted the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly was NOT fined for his big roughing the passer penalty in the same game."

This was the first fine of Smith's career. He held out during training camp and became the last draft pick to sign his contract this offseason. Much of the holdup reportedly had to do with offset language involving Smith's guaranteed money. After missing training camp, Smith suffered a minor injury and was unable to appear in any of Chicago's preseason contests. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers and recorded a sack on his first career snap. He later took over as one one of Chicago's starting inside linebackers next to veteran Danny Trevathan.

Smith finished the regular season with 121 tackles, five sacks, five pass deflections and one interception. His 121 tackles are the second-most by a Bears rookie following Brian Urlacher's record-setting rookie year in 2000. He has proven to be a reliable tackler for Chicago this season. The young linebacker had six games of 10 or more tackles this year. He recorded a career-high 13 tackles in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins.

Smith was the eighth overall pick in last April's NFL Draft following a stellar collegiate career at Georgia. He was used sparingly as a freshman in 2015, recording 20 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 10 games that season. He finally got a chance to start in his sophomore season and did not disappoint. In 13 games he recorded 95 tackles, five tackles for loss, one pass deflection, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. He capped off an impressive junior season by recording 137 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

The young linebacker was then named a consensus All-American, the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year and was the recipient of the Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation's best college linebacker.

As part of the Class of 2015, Smith was listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports with a 0.9769 composite score. He ranked 48th nationally, fifth among all outside linebackers and sixth out of the state of Georgia. At the time he received a total of 27 offers, went on six visits and had two coach visits. Smith received offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and a host of others before he visited USC, UCLA, Texas A&M and Michigan. Smith eventually committed to Georgia and enrolled that summer.

Smith signed a four-year deal worth $18 million before the start of the season.