Whereas the NFL is attempting to make its sport safer by banning helmet-first hits to mitigate concussions, plainly the low hit by defenders is the brand new excessive hit.
The hit security Kerby Joseph had towards 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 on account 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 stated to Joseph after the play.
Joseph took to X to speak concerning 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 hold 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 top. 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 will not be allowed to decrease their heads once they go for the deal with. 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 meant to guard the well being and security of gamers.” He led together with his head when making these hits.
Within the hit towards Higbee, many thought that Joseph was main together with his head, however 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, reasonably than stop them.
“There are going to be occasions when gamers deal with with their shoulder, as they need to, however the reality is your head comes earlier than your shoulder,” former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman stated to The New York Times in 2018. “If there was a approach anyone might pull their head again and solely lead with their shoulder, I’m certain they’d — however your physique doesn’t work that approach.”
Implementing the controversial rule did work for what it was got down to do– cut back concussions. There was a 29 percent decrease in concussions throughout the common NFL season in 2018 from the 2017 season. There may be not as a lot analysis executed by the NFL regarding ACL/knee accidents, however within the 2019 damage report, NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills stated they’re engaged on it.
“As we take a look at damage burden, a few accidents actually leap out – decrease extremity strains, knee ligament accidents, and ankle sprains,” Sills stated within the report. “So we’re placing workstreams towards every a kind of particular accidents to attempt to perceive who’s being injured, how they’re being injured, the elements driving damage, and the levers that we are able to pull to probably have an effect on these accidents.”
As for Joseph and the hit towards Higbee, there was no name made. It was dominated a clear hit, and Joseph has not been fined or penalized.