The Cleveland Browns lost KC Concepcion to a head injury early in the loss to the New York Jets, with the hit sparking a divided reaction online - and in the visiting locker room
KC Concepcion was helped off the field by staff after he was knocked out by Minkah Fitzpatrick
KC Concepcion was helped off the field by staff after he was knocked out by Minkah Fitzpatrick(Image: Getty Images)
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Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken did not believe Minkah Fitzpatrick’s hit on KC Concepcion was dirty. But Dawand Jones certainly did.
On Sunday, the New York Jets welcomed the Browns to MetLife Stadium in desperate need of a win. The Jets struggled offensively in a loss to the Chicago Bears last week, with Isaiah Williams scoring their only touchdown late in the game.
The offense stuttered in the rain, but the defense delivered with eight sacks while allowing just a 23.1 percent success rate against the Browns. Braelon Allen scored a late touchdown to give the Jets a crucial 17-12 win.
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After picking off Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent last week to end the Jets’ historic 20-game interception streak, Fitzpatrick made his presence felt early against the Browns. He twice roughed up rookie Concepcion, with the second hit deemed particularly hard.
After Deshaun Watson found Concepcion, the receiver was crushed on his blindside by Fitzpatrick. The safety felt he made a clean hit, but officials tossed a flag into the air as the Browns got precious penalty yards.
Concepcion stayed down. Fitzpatrick was penalized for unnecessary roughness with the hit, and after lying on the turf motionless for a short while, Concepcion was eventually able to head to the locker room under his own power. He was shortly ruled out of the game.
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While Dawand Jones fumed over Minkah Fitzpatrick's hit, Todd Monken insisted it was simply a football play
While Dawand Jones fumed over Fitzpatrick's hit, Todd Monken insisted it was simply a football play(Image: Getty Images)
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The hit divided fans online, with some believing it was “dirty” while others insisted it was simply an “NFL-level hit.” Browns offensive tackle Jones exchanged words with Fitzpatrick after the hit, and he told reporters what he said to the safety.
“I just told him that shit's f---ed up... He just told me, ‘It's football,’ and I'm not down with that s---,” Jones told reporters after the game. “That s---- not football at that point.”
He added: “I told him that s---- not right. I call it how I see it. Some things ain’t football, and some things are, and that weren’t football.”
However, Monken was more measured. He insisted the play was simply a classic “bang-bang play,” where two actions — in this case, a defender arriving to make a hit just as the ball reaches a receiver — happen almost simultaneously.
“It's just a bang-bang play,” Monken said. “I mean, Minkah has been in this league a long time. He’s not a dirty player. I've never seen that out of him. I mean, it's a bang-bang play, and unfortunately, it happened to our guy. That's part of the league.”
The 2-3 Jets are next in action against the 3-2 New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 18, while the 3-2 Browns will host the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens at the same time.