Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9). Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Stafford blasts Lions' Kerby Joseph for dirty hit, Dan Campbell responds

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/18/24

Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph is developing a reputation around the NFL, and it’s not a good one.

In the fourth quarter of Detroit’s 24-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams during Super Wild Card Weekend, Joseph launched himself at the knees of Tyler Higbee, forcing the 6-foot-6, 255-pound tight end to go airborne and come down on his head.

The optics of the play were so bad that Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford rushed over to Joseph moments later and laid into him for trying to injure his teammate.

Warning: the video contains colorful language.

Matthew Stafford had the receipts for Kerby Joseph after his hit on Tyler Higbee pic.twitter.com/9GZqagxuM4
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 18, 2024

While Higbee didn’t suffer any damage to his head or neck, he did tear his ACL because of Joseph’s actions. Higbee is the second player to suffer a torn ACL because of Joseph after Minnesota Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson suffered a similar injury after being tackled by the 23-year-old safety during their Week 16 matchup on Christmas Eve.

Many players around the league hold the same perception of Joseph as a dirty player. Lions head coach Dan Campbell, however, defended Joseph, stating he’s simply playing the way he’s been coached and not intentionally trying to injure anyone.

“That’s how we play football here — just keep your head up, see what you hit,” Campbell told reporters. “That will always be what I tell Kerby. Just keep your eyes up, so you don’t hit on the crown of your helmet. You [compress] your spine; you mess yourself up there. Just see what you hit. No, he’s going for the thigh board and staying away from the head. That’s how we play defense here. Not dirty. It’s just where we hit.”

Kerby’s propensity for knee-level tackles is something the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will surely be paying attention to this weekend when they travel to Ford Field to play the Lions in the NFC divisional round.

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