Eagles

Jason Kelce Says Blindside Hit on Colts Player was “Unacceptable” on his Part

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Aug 22nd, 2023 · 2:13 PM EDT

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Eagles/Colts joint practice was shut down early on Tuesday when Jason Kelce blindsided Zaire Franklin after Kenny Gainwell took a late hit.

Kelce then said this:

Jason Kelce said he needs to keep his composure and he said it shouldn’t have happened: him going after the Colts after seeing a few of his teammates get hit

“That was not okay”

“That was unacceptable from me” pic.twitter.com/TUO9Xx2cJq

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 22, 2023

Kelce:

“Tensions just got the better of me. Certainly we try and keep things civil on the field, and I think for me, I pride myself on being a guy that sustains the emotion and the level of play out there. I let my emotions get the better of me. That certainly doesn’t belong out there on the field and (I’m a) little bit ashamed it got to that level that I did what I did. Certainly not happy about that. I think very highly of the guys out there, #44, Zaire, he’s a tremendous player and I think a lot of their guys up front. They brought a lot of intensity to the day, which made the practice intense. I didn’t handle things properly there at the end.”

Kelce said he didn’t talk to Franklin after the incident, noting that “tensions are a little bit too high for that right now.” Franklin is a local guy who went to La Salle College High School before making his way to Syracuse and then into the NFL as a 7th round draft pick.

He said this:

“I thought the OGs would at least look me in the eye before [hitting me]. But it’s all good. I’m might get a chance to look him in the eye on Thursday so we’re going to be OK.”

Colts LB Zaire Franklin on getting blindsided by Jason Kelce. pic.twitter.com/CrJ0bq2nzG

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) August 22, 2023

Zaire, of course, is the former name of The Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Sixers once had “Zhaire” Smith on their team, but the country itself was spelled “Zaire,” so do with that information what you will. The capital of both Zaire and the DR Congo is Kinshasa.