In the second quarter of the 2016 Bedlam game, OU’s stellar wide receiver Dede Westbrook took this huge hit over the middle and was down motionless on the field before leaving the game.
Dede Westbrook injury: Oklahoma WR takes brutal hit, which wasn’t targeting
We’ll update as we know more.
Westbrook had to this point been having an incredible game, including this fantastic touchdown catch early in the game. But the immediate question is of course, was this targeting?
By the letter of the law, it doesn’t seem like it. OSU’s Jordan Sterns didn’t lead with the crown of his head or launch, nor was contact to Westbrook’s head.
The other applicable part of the rule here doesn’t have much to do with Westbrook’s head or neck area, but if you want to peg it as targeting, perhaps you could look to the part of the rule regarding a defender’s head (emphasis mine).
No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent (See Note 2 below) with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder.
Westbrook didn’t return to the game for the rest of the first half.
We’ll update this post as we know more.
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