Detroit Lions players defend Kerby Joseph's low hit that injured Rams TE Tyler Higbee

Rams TE Tyler Higbee took a brutal hit at the knees from Lions FS Kerby Joseph that caused him to fully flip over during Los Angeles’ loss in the NFC Wild Card at Detroit on Sunday. However, according to others on the Lion defense, it’s a play that, while unfortunate, was a clean one by their teammate.

Detroit LB Alex Anzalone made several points on the hit on Twitter in the aftermath of the game. He said that it’s how the league prefers them to make tackles. Although he wasn’t glad that Higbee was injured, it was a good hit considering the scenario that Joseph found himself in.

“Don’t even need to comment on it. It’s how the league office asks us to tackle,” wrote Anzalone.

“My point is that it’s a legal hit,” Anzalone continued. “It’s a dangerous, violent sport. It’s legal to cut block DEs full speed while he’s blinded on run plays. The QB should know not the throw this ball and protect his own player. And, like I said, I do not want anyone to get hurt out there.”

Lions DB CJ Gardner-Johnson shared similar thoughts postgame and on Twitter as well. If anything, he says, like Anzalone, that more fault is on Rams QB Matthew Stafford for putting Higbee in that spot with his pass. However, he also added that he too hopes that Higbee is okay following the play.

“If anybody on the Rams feel like it was dirty? Well, tell his quarterback don’t put the ball in a place where he gets his player hurt,” Gardner-Johnson said.

“I’m praying for bro and his family. I don’t have no intention to hurt no body and or harm their career,” wrote Gardner-Johnson.

Higbee dropped the throw from Stafford on what was his lone target of the day. That was in large part due to the hit from Joseph. He sent him head over heels before landing on the ground and then heading to the sideline.

Since then, reports suggest that Higbee may have torn his ACL on the play.

With that drop, Los Angeles had to settle for a field goal a few plays later. That was that for them as the Lions closed it out with their own drive over the final four minutes.

No one was glad to see Higbee suffer an injury and have to leave the game following the hit, especially if it’s potentially significant moving forward. It’s just that, per the rules, the Lions don’t see any issue with how Joseph went about making that important play.

Dan Campbell gives electric locker room speech after Lions’ first playoff win in 32 years

Dan Campbell gave an electric locker room speech to his guys after they beat the L.A. Rams on Sunday.

The win was the franchise’s first playoff victory in 32 years, officially ending the league’s longest drought. NFL fans who watched the Detroit Lions on Hard Knocks became very familiar with Campbell’s locker room energy but he took it to another level after beating the Rams.

How electric was that pic.twitter.com/OmBWpiu2v2

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 15, 2024