Did NFL Fine Lions Kerby Joseph for Hit on Rams' Tyler Higbee?

Despite causing a season-ending injury to Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, Detroit Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph wasn't fined for his controversial hit.

The NFL's league office has made plenty of headlines this season by announcing their fines to players or coaches who they deemed to have broken the rules following each week's slate of games. 

The league recently fined Detroit Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph, but it wasn't due to the hit many Los Angeles Rams fans think could've warranted one. 

Per a report from NFL.com's Tom Pelissero, Joseph was fined $5,052 by the league's office, but not for his below-the-knee hit on Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, which saw the 31-year-old tear his ACL and MCL. 

Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) breaks up a catch attempt by Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) during the second half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Ford Field.  / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Instead, Joseph was fined for the unnecessary roughness penalty he drew in the first quarter of the Wild Card game. 

The hit that ended the season for Higbee not only drew backlash from fans as many pointed out that this wasn't the first time that a low hit from Joseph had caused an injury. 

But even Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford called him out for the hit after the play. 

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"That's a good hit, but you're dirty as (expletive), and you know it," a mic'd up Stafford said to Joseph during the game. "It's been on tape, I've seen it.”

The NFL has seemed to agree with Stafford that it was a "good" or 'clean' hit in this case. 

However, after a similar hit from Joseph earlier in the season saw Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson suffer a torn MCL and ACL, it will continue to spark a debate about the discipline record of the Lions' defensive back.