The Detroit Lions continued their remarkable season on Thursday night, securing their 11th consecutive victory by defeating their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in a thrilling matchup to kick off the NFL weekend. The Lions managed to pull off the win with a last-second field goal, clinching the game as time expired.
It was a hard-fought battle, and the Lions used their final drive to effectively run down the clock and set up the winning kick, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
While Thursday night marked a major victory for Detroit, the game did not come without controversy. Some fans are calling out a particular moment involving Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph, who delivered a hit that they argue crossed the line of fair play.
During the game, Joseph hit Packers tight end Tucker Kraft in the knee with his helmet—a move that many believe could have seriously injured the player.
After the play, several fans took to social media to criticize Joseph for what they deemed a “dirty hit” on Kraft, calling for disciplinary action against the Lions defender. The incident drew the ire of Packers fans and many across the NFL community who viewed the hit as unnecessarily dangerous.
“This is Kerby Joseph, by the way: 1-He tore Higbee’s ACL. 2-He also tore Hockenson’s ACL. 3-He went for Kraft’s knee last night. But I’m sure it’s all a coincidence, right?” one fan commented, referencing Joseph’s history of similar plays.
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Another fan expressed their frustration, saying, “Kerby Joseph continues to do this crap. Head down, targeting the knees. He belongs out of the league.” This sentiment was echoed by many who watched the game, with fans suggesting that Joseph has a troubling pattern of targeting opponents in a dangerous manner.
“Kerby Joseph might actually be a scumbag and the league has to do something about it if they’re truly about player safety,” another fan wrote. “He shredded TJ Hockenson and Tyler Higbee’s knees exactly like this and tried it again with Tucker Kraft last night.”
The criticism kept coming, with one fan adding, “Kerby Joseph fr gotta problem. He’s always trying to snatch people’s legs from them. Guess he can’t tackle like a normal football player.” The frustration was palpable, as fans voiced their belief that Joseph’s tackling style poses a significant risk to other players.
“Kerby Joseph is a bigger threat to player safety than Azeez Al-Shaair,” another fan claimed, emphasizing the perceived danger Joseph brings to the field. Meanwhile, one fan drew comparisons to a notorious era in NFL history, saying, “Anyone not see Kerby Joseph try and take Kraft’s knee out?!? Can’t tell me this team ain’t the 2009 Saints.”
The accusations against Joseph are not entirely new. Fans pointed out that this was not his first time being accused of delivering a dirty hit. Last season, Joseph made headlines for a similar hit on Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee during a playoff game, which resulted in Higbee suffering a serious knee injury.
Additionally, Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson was also injured after a hit from Joseph, further fueling the belief that his tackling approach is reckless and endangers other players.
The Detroit Lions, as a team, have faced accusations of dirty play at various points this season. Most recently, they were criticized following their Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears for supposed late hits on quarterback Caleb Williams.
These incidents have led many to question whether the Lions are crossing the line in their aggressive play style, and Joseph’s actions on Thursday night have only added fuel to the fire.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if the league takes any action regarding Kerby Joseph’s hit on Tucker Kraft. Packers fans and others around the NFL are clearly not willing to give Joseph the benefit of the doubt any longer, and many are calling for stricter enforcement of player safety rules to prevent similar incidents in the future.
With player safety being a top priority for the NFL, the spotlight will remain on Joseph and the Lions as fans await any potential response from the league.
