Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman stood up for his quarterback and was rewarded for it on Sunday.

Bozeman got a game ball from head coach Jim Harbaugh and was celebrated by his teammates after responding to defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd’s unnecessary roughness against Justin Herbert with a hard hit of his own, according to ESPN. Kris Rhim.

In the second quarter of the Chargers’ 26-8 win over the New Orleans Saints, Herbert’s legs were wrapped by Shepherd after he had already completed a pass. Bozeman responded by shoving Shepherd in the groundwith both players receiving unnecessary roughness penalties.

“It was probably one of the dirtiest rooms I’ve ever seen,” Bozeman said via Rhim. “You protect your quarterback no matter what. And I think any of our offensive linemen that were in my position would have done the same thing.”

Herbert was able to participate in all seven competitions in Los Angeles this season, but he was hampered by a sprained right ankle that he suffered in Week 2. While Harbaugh didn’t necessarily agree with Bozeman’s response, he also didn’t blame him for fighting back.

“Everyone knows Justin has a bad ankle,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t blame (Bozeman). I don’t encourage him at all, but I don’t blame him.”

Bozeman earned an overall rating of just 55.4 from Focus on professional football in his first season with the Chargers, but he allowed just one sack in 198 pass blocks.

Regardless of his play on the pitch, the 29-year-old endeared himself to his coaching staff and teammates by defending Herbert on Sunday.