A remarkable incident occurred in the NFL last week during the New Orleans Saints’ matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although Philadelphia secured the victory, the game featured a particularly brutal hit on one of their star offensive players.DeVonta Smith, a 1,000-yard wide receiver for the Eagles, took a hard hit to the back from Saints rookie defensive tackle Khristian Boyd, resulting in a concussion for Smith.
As reported by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Boyd has been fined $4,600 for the incident. What makes this hit particularly concerning is that Smith was not prepared for the impact. He was being pushed backward and had no idea the hit was coming.
Adding to the worry is the fact that Smith weighs only about 170 pounds. The thought of not being able to brace for a collision with a 320-pound defensive tackle is alarming.
Boyd should have refrained from the hit, especially since the play was essentially over and Smith was already being tackled. If these two teams face off again in the playoffs, the intensity could increase seriously.
For now, both teams are sitting at 2-1 and eager to build on their successes. The Eagles are preparing to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who ended their season last January, while the Saints are set to battle their arch-rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, on the road.
It remains to be seen whether Smith will be available to play this week for Philadelphia.