Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was recorded on a microphone during Sunday's game. He was caught berating Kerby Joseph after the Lions safety used the low hit to bring down Rams tight end Tyler Higbee.
“Hey! That's a good hit,” Stafford yells at Joseph. “That's a good hit, but you're fucking dirty and you know it. You're fucking dirty. It's on tape. I saw it. It is on tape.
Higbee tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the hit.
Lions coach Dan Campbell assisted Joseph, who also had a low hit that injured Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson's knee.
“That’s how we play football here; Just keep your head up; See what you hit,” Campbell said, via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “I’ll always tell Kerby that. Just keep your eyes open so you don't hit the crown of the helmet. You [compress] your spine; You're screwing yourself up there. Just see what you hit. No, he grabs the thigh board and stays away from the head. That's how we play defense here. Not dirty. This is exactly where we are getting to.”
The hit is legal, but injuries to Hockenson and Higbee once again put low hits under scrutiny.
Joseph defended himself on social media this week, writing: “Praying for my brother and his family. I have no intention of hurting anyone or damaging their careers.”