The sign held by a Detroit fan during the playoff game between the Lions and Buccaneers that referenced taking out kneecaps of the Vikings and Rams has been perceived by some as a deliberate shot at injured tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Tyler Higbee.
Among those who are now calling out the NFL for sharing an image of the sign on social media is Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson, who wrote “Yall wild for posting this” and “This ain’t cool!!”
Yall wild for posting this👎🏾This ain’t cool!! https://t.co/dLjWPWIFtK
— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) January 22, 2024
The sign appeared to be, at least in part, a salut to Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s first press conference after he was hired three years ago, when he said the Lions will be a team that gets back up after being knocked down and “on the way up we’re going to bite off a kneecap.” He continued to say that if they get knocked down again they’ll “take your other kneecap,” and keep taking “another hunk of you” as they battle on.
But the inclusion of the Vikings and Rams and use of “kneecap” and “other kneecap” next to their respective logos has been perceived by some as an intentional connection to the knee injuries suffered by Hockenson and Higbee.
On Dec. 24, Hockenson suffered ACL and MCL tears in his right knee after he absorbed a low hit by Detroit safety Kerby Joseph. Last week, during the Lions’ wild-card win, Higbee suffered the exact same injuries when he was hit in his knee by Joseph.
