David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

NFL does not fine Kerby Joseph for hit on Higbee

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated 1/20/24

The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams had a barn burner last Sunday night. It was an emotional game for both sides. In the fourth quarter Matthew Stafford passed the ball to Tyler Higbee and Kerby Joseph made this stop on the play.

Rams believe TE Tyler Higbee tore his ACL after absorbing a low hit from Detroit safety Kerby Joseph, per sources. There will be additional testing to confirm the initial diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/ZnojOTMwci
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2024

This hit had Rams fans very upset all week and had them convinced that Kerby Joseph is is a dirty player. After all, this same type of hit happened to T.J. Hockenson a few weeks back and he wound up with a torn ACL as well.

I'm not going to argue with the fact that this type of hit sucks. It really does. It also wasn't the only one of it's kind in this game. Both teams were guilty here. But it's a completely legal hit. That's why the NFL chose not to fine Joseph for this hit or the one on Hockenson.

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 did receive a find for this game though. That fine was when he pulled Rams defender off the pile in the first quarter. That defender did have his arm driving into Brian Branch's neck at that time. So you can understand why Joseph did what he did. Seems a bit much from Kyren Williams.