Despite facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions discussed their Wednesday game. Lions head coach Dan Campbell discussed safety Kerby Joseph's low hit that tore Tyler Higbee's ACL and MCL this week.
The play saw Joseph lower his helmet and hit Higbee's legs, bending his right knee grotesquely:
Matthew Stafford of the Rams and others criticized the hit. Wednesday's video showed Stafford confronting Joseph immediately after the play: "You're dirty and you know it. I saw it on tape
Fans found several dubious hits by Illinois second-year player Joseph in his brief stint. Against former Lion T.J. Hockenson, a similar hit had similar effects. Rams rookie Puka Nacua was whacked with a hip drop tackle, another questionable hit. He ran into Rams offensive guard Steve Avila's legs.
Campbell defended Joseph's style of play when questioned about his reputation and how he's advised the young player: Joseph approached Higbee's legs with his helmet facing down.
After Sunday's game, Joseph said he wasn't trying to damage Higbee and called himself "a mf dog since I came out my mama womb."
The Buccaneers' talented players may be on alert against the Lions in the divisional round. Detroit's other starting safety, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, trash-talked Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, who won early
Sunday's Buccaneers-Lions game starts at 3 p.m. ET