Take it from a Hall of Famer: Kerby Joseph isn't a dirty player.
Despite what critics in Green Bay might have you believe, JJ Watt says the way that Joseph tends to tackle in the open field isn't malicious.
Watt responded to a post on X from a Packers reporter who said that Joseph "might actually be a scumbag" for his low hit on Packers tight end Tucker Kraft in Detroit's win Thursday night and said, "Besides keeping his head up (which he absolutely should do, to protect himself), how would you propose he tackle a TE running full speed at him?"
Watt pointed out that on the tackle in question, Joseph's "shoulder is directly in (Kraft's) thigh board" and added, "Football is a violent game. Not every hit is malicious."
Kraft called Joseph a "dangerous player" in the lead up to Thursday's game and said he hoped to "get my hands on him" after Joseph injured fellow tight ends TJ Hockenson and Tyler Higbee with low -- but legal -- hits last season.
Kraft and Joseph then exchanged words on the field, with Joseph saying afterward, "You talking about Mac and Cheese Kraft? Man, I don’t know who that boy is. To be honest, man, people just talk crazy. I ain't worried about it."