Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick’s hit on KC Concepcion on Sunday knocked out the Browns wide receiver. Concepcion was diagnosed with his first concussion.
Fitzpatrick will appeal a fine from the NFL, calling the hit just a “football play” despite a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.
Concepcion agrees with Fitzpatrick’s assessment.
“I know the game that I signed up to play,” Concepcion said Friday, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “This game is a very physical game. To me, it wasn’t a dirty hit. It was just a football play.”
The rookie first-round pick cleared concussion protocol on Friday and will play Sunday.
“I thank the Lord, just for him allowing me to get back up and be able to walk off the field,” Concepcion said. “I’m like this all the time, smiling, dancing, cracking jokes. [But] I would say that I am glad that I was able to get up and be able to play again.”