Rams QB Matthew Stafford calls out Lions safety Kerby Joseph for the hit that tore Tyler Higbee’s ACL in Sunday’s NFL playoff game: ‘You dirty as f*** – and you know it’

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was overheard calling out Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph for a horrific hit he delivered during Sunday’s 24-23 victory in LA.

The hit forced Rams safety Tyler Higbee to leave the game and was ultimately diagnosed with a torn ACL. The timing of Higbee’s injury will likely impact him entering next season.

During the play, Higbee was trying to catch a pass while running up the middle when Joseph crashed into the tight end’s knee at high speed while making a bang-bang slam to break up the pass.

Higbee’s leg could clearly be seen bending sideways before he landed on the ground first with his helmet and face mask on.

As Joseph celebrated the big hit that set up the incomplete pass, the microphones on the field picked up the quarterback’s angry words to Johnson.

Joseph delivered a hit to the knee of Rams TE Tyler Higbee during their playoff game on Sunday

The hit resulted in Higbee suffering a torn ACL, which will impact him heading into next season

‘Hi! That’s a good blow. That’s a good blow. But you are dirty and you know it,” Stafford said.

‘You’re dirty as fuck. It was on tape. I’ve seen it. It’s on the tape.’

The “tape” Stafford was referring to was a nearly identical play on Christmas Eve that also led to Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson suffering a torn ACL.

Joseph later went to X to defend himself when he posted a tweet saying, “ALL SERIOUS…. THIS GAME WE ARE PLAYING IS VERY DANGEROUS…. I pray for my brother and his family. I have no intention of hurting anyone and/or damaging their career. I’ve been a mother dog since I came out of my mother’s womb and the nun of all of you here, away, take that away from me.’

He also received support from his teammates, one of whom was fellow safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who even blamed Stafford for the play.

“If anyone on the Rams feels like it’s dirty, tell their quarterback not to put the ball where he can hurt his player,” Gardner-Johnson told reporters after the game. “You hear (Tom) Brady say it all the time.

Joseph delivered a similar hit on Christmas Eve, which also tore the ACL of Vikings TE TJ Hockenson

Gardner-Johnson and Dan Campbell responded to Stafford and defended Joseph

“Man, Kerby is a baseball player. Kerby has been doing it since he’s been here, before I got here, and like I said, if the quarterback doesn’t want players to get hurt or confused, don’t put it in a place where our safety comes into play . ‘

Lions head coach Dan Campbell also defended his apparent ACL hunting safety amid accusations he was a dirty player.

‘That’s how we play football here; Keep your head up and see what hits you,” Campbell said during his Wednesday press conference.

‘That will always be what I say to Kerby. Keep your eyes up so you don’t hit the crown of your helmet. … Just see what hits you. No, he goes for the thigh plank and stays away from the head. That’s how we defend here; not dirty, it’s just where we hit.’