Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Joseph Ossai was distraught after committing a costly penalty in Sunday’s AFC Championship matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
TV cameras focused on Ossai as he sat on the bench and weeped following the unnecessary roughness penalty that helped the Chiefs clinch a trip to the Super Bowl with a 23-20 win.
As Ossai faced criticism and questions from the media and fans following the game, teammates rallied around the second-year player. Defensive tackle B.J. Hill was among those who stepped up to support Ossai.
Ossai was taking questions from reporters in the locker room when Hill stood by him and reminded everybody that his teammates don’t have to answer any question that’s out of line.
When reporters asked questions about Ossai’s emotional state after the play, Hill stepped in and said “dumb question.”
“He played his butt off the whole game,” Hill said. “Ask a different question.”
This was the scene at Joseph Ossai’s locker with BJ Hill stepping in to provide support https://t.co/8vn1OOlhOQ pic.twitter.com/nbUnoCkzfp
— Michael Niziolek (@michaelniziolek) January 30, 2023
Ossai was called for the unnecessary roughness penalty when he shoved Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was already running out of bounds when tackled.
Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard also offered support, and Hill blamed himself for how the play turned out.
“That play didn’t cost the game, I should have made a play, I should have got the sack,” Hill told reporters, according to Cleveland.com. “I should have got him down somewhere, I should have fought a littler harder.”
