Kerby Joseph: 'I Don't Have No Intention to Hurt Nobody'

Lions safety defends tackle against Rams tight end.

Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph is experiencing criticism for his tackle against Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee. 

Joseph's low hit upended Higbee and ended his evening prematurely, as the Lions went on to defeat the Rams at Ford Field. 

After advancing in the postseason for the first time in his career, Detroit's talented safety took to social media to defend himself. 

"ALL SERIOUSNESS …. THIS GAME WE PLAY IS VERY DANGEROUS…. I’m praying for bro and his family I don’t have no intention to hurt no body and or harm their career," Joseph posted. "I been a mf dog since I came out my mama womb and nun of y’all on here gone take that away from me #GODBLESS."

Quarterback Jared Goff, who is close with Higbee, met up to check in with his injured friend after the game. 

"Of course, he’s one of my best friends," said Goff. "Him sustaining the injury he did is hard. It’s hard for me to sit on the sidelines and watch that. And I know he’ll be just fine. I don’t know what he’s going to end up doing, but he’ll be just fine, and I love him.”

Linebacker Alex Anzalone came to Joseph's defense online, indicating the 23-year-old did not need to publicly apologize for anything. 

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

C.J. Gardner-Johnson expressed that Matthew Stafford should not have put the football in a place to put the talented tight end in a precarious position. 

"If anybody on the Rams feels like it was dirty, tell the quarterback don't put the ball in a place where it get his player hurt," Gardner-Johnson told reporters postgame. "Brady says it all the time."

Rams believe TE Tyler Higbee tore his ACL after absorbing a low hit from Detroit safety Kerby Joseph, per sources. There will be additional testing to confirm the initial diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/ZnojOTMwci

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2024

ALL SERIOUSNESS…. THIS GAME WE PLAY IS VERY DANGEROUS…. I’m praying for bro and his family I don’t have no intention to hurt no body and or harm their career I been a mf dog since I came out my mama womb and nun of y’all on here gone take that away from me 👌👌💯💯💯 #GODBLESS

— ZUPER BOWL KERB💤😎 (@JKERB25) January 15, 2024