Whereas the NFL is making an attempt to make its sport safer by banning helmet-first hits to mitigate concussions, it appears that evidently the low hit by defenders is the brand new excessive hit.
The hit security Kerby Joseph had in opposition to Tyler Higbee throughout the Detriot Lions-Los Angeles Rams Wild Card playoff sport over the weekend is an ideal instance.
Not solely did Higbee tear his ACL and MCL because of the hit, however it’s practically similar to earlier this season when Joseph went low on Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson, which additionally resulted in him tearing these ligaments.
“You soiled as f*ck although and you understand it,”a mic-ed up Rams QB Matthew Stafford mentioned to Joseph after the play.
Joseph took to X to speak in regards to the state of affairs from his perspective.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell defended his participant, and the hit Wednesday, telling the media, “That’s how we play soccer right here. Simply preserve your head up, see what you hit. That’ll all the time be what I inform Kerby.
“… He’s going for the thigh board and staying away from the pinnacle. That’s how we play protection right here. It’s not soiled. We hit.”
The NFL prohibited hitting somebody along with your helmet in 2018. Gamers are usually not allowed to decrease their heads after they go for the sort out. If it occurs, it might result in a 15-yard penalty at a minimal, and a suspension on the most.
Former Denver Broncos security Kareem Jackson was suspended then lower “for repeated violations of taking part in guidelines supposed to guard the well being and security of gamers.” He led together with his head when making these hits.
Within the hit in opposition to Higbee, many thought that Joseph was main together with his head, nevertheless it turned out to be his again and shoulders that made contact first. When the rule was adopted, some gamers felt that it might create extra accidents, fairly than stop them.
“There are going to be instances when gamers sort out with their shoulder, as they need to, however the truth is your head comes earlier than your shoulder,” former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman mentioned to The New York Occasions in 2018. “If there was a method anyone might pull their head again and solely lead with their shoulder, I’m positive they’d — however your physique doesn’t work that method.”
Implementing the controversial rule did work for what it was got down to do– cut back concussions. There was a 29 % lower in concussions throughout the common NFL season in 2018 from the 2017 season. There’s not as a lot analysis achieved by the NFL regarding ACL/knee accidents, however within the 2019 damage report, NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills mentioned they’re engaged on it.
“As we have a look at damage burden, a few accidents actually leap out – decrease extremity strains, knee ligament accidents, and ankle sprains,” Sills mentioned within the report. “So we’re placing workstreams in opposition to every a type of particular accidents to attempt to perceive who’s being injured, how they’re being injured, the components driving damage, and the levers that we will pull to probably have an effect on these accidents.”
As for Joseph and the hit in opposition to Higbee, there was no name made. It was dominated a clear hit, and Joseph has not been fined or penalized.