Lions' Kerby Joseph Not Fined for Hit That Injured Rams' Tyler Higbee in Playoff Game | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Emma Valentine
Published Mar 24, 2026
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph will not take a hit to his wallet for his controversial hit on Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that while Joseph will be fined for actions relating to the game, the hit on Higbee was deemed legal and he would not have any further action.
Tom Pelissero @TomPelisseroThe NFL didn't fine <a href="">#Lions</a> DB Kerby Joseph for the (legal) hit that blew out <a href="">#Rams</a> TE Tyler Higbee's knee last week — but Joseph was fined $5,052 for unnecessary roughness on a play in the first quarter.
Higbee suffered a torn ACL as a result of the hit and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford criticized the hit on a hot mic during the game, referring to is as "dirty as f--k."
This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.
The hit obviously knocked Higbee from the game, which Detroit would win 24-23. It was the Lions first playoff victory since 1991 and also secured a second home game for the team as the No. 2 seeded Dallas Cowboys fell in its Wild Card mathchup.
This was the second player that had suffered a severe injury after a Joseph hit in recent weeks, as Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL in December as a result of the safety's hit.
While he has received criticism from others for his play, he has also been defended by teammates and head coach Dan Campbell, with his coach saying that play was "how we play football here."
Joseph and the Lions will look to continue the playoff run in the Divisional Round Sunday when it hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3:00 P.M. ET.