After much debate, the NFL slapped the Los Angeles Rams tight end in the face again.
It was announced Saturday that Kerby Joseph, the Detroit Lions defensive back, would not be fined for his low – but legal – hit on Higbee that blew out his knee.
The hit led to Higbee tearing his ACL and MCL, and now he is on a path to a long offseason recovery and rehab process.
The NFL didn’t fine #Lions DB Kerby Joseph for the (legal) hit that blew out #Rams TE Tyler Higbee’s knee last week — but Joseph was fined $5,052 for unnecessary roughness on a play in the first quarter.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 20, 2024
Joseph was subsequently fined for a different hit in the first half of the Rams' lone playoff game.
Matthew Stafford after the game didn't hold back on the hit that led to Higbee's injury, calling it a clear "dirty play."
However, the NFL didn't see it that way.
Scary injury in the #Rams-#Lions game as Rams TE Tyler Higbee took a low hit to his knee from Lions Safety Kerby Joseph. Hopefully it’s nothing serious
— DJFootball (@drew_sports_) January 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/sD7eXGabrw
Though Higbee is going to have a long road to playing football again, the NFL gave him one more slap to the face by not punishing the player responsible for the low hit in the first place.
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