Serious injuries to Hockenson, Higbee puts low tackles under scrutiny
LA Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has suffered a possible ACL tear following a hit to the knees by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph Sunday night, the same player who dealt a similar, season-ending injury to Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Higbee is set to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury after Joseph's 4th-quarter hit, which comes after Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL in the Vikings' game against the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas Eve.
Joseph's second injury-causing tackle in less than a month has sparked a debate over tackle rules, with some calling for hits to the knees to have similar rule protections as helmet-to-helmet contact.
The incident sparked criticism from Rams reporters and some NFL commentators, with Vikings fans still outraged by Hockenson's injury also joining in.
Among those commenting is former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who tweeted: "Stupid [expletive] hit. Unnecessary."
This was a dirty hit. Joseph targets Higbee’s knees. No place for this in the NFL. https://t.co/aQcnpGP2tn
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) January 15, 2024
This safety has now taken out TJ Hockenson and Tyler Higbee both with low blind side hits yet the NFL does zippo. Amazing they target helmet to helmet but helmet to knee and torn ACLs no biggie. https://t.co/HrEnhqRmO1
— CrakRok (@CrakRok) January 15, 2024
That’s just unbelievable. Essentially the same unnecessary hit, by the same guy on two of the NFL’s best tight ends, results in the same brutal injury. https://t.co/niBEjGRWzn
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) January 15, 2024
Naturally Lions fans have been jumping to the defense of Joseph, arguing that low hits are necessary for safeties and cornerbacks coming up against much-heavier tight ends, given that high tackles could result in penalties and efforts to pull the player down at upper leg/mid-section could lead to missed tackles.© David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
After Sunday's game, Joseph's fellow Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson placed the blame on Rams QB Matt Stafford for making a throw over the middle to Higbee that put the tight end at risk of a strong tackle, noting that this is something for which NFL legend Tom Brady has called out modern quarterbacks.
But that wasn't the case when Hockenson sustained his injury, with Joseph hitting Hockenson in the knees well after the completion had been made and the Viking was advancing up the field.
Kirby Joseph just did this again to Tyler Higbee. pic.twitter.com/EAfw9cHFWJ
— Taylor Droz (@DrozoTheClown) January 15, 2024
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
Raised on the Isle of Man, Adam has 15 years experience as a reporter and editor at regional and national level in the U.K. and the U.S. He moved to Minnesota in 2014 and became a writer for Bring Me The News. He is now the co-owner and editor of Bring Me The News and Bring Me The Sports, mixing in some occasional sports writing with his other editorial duties. He lists his three great loves as his family, Liverpool F.C. and baked beans (the British kind).