The brutal hit on Tyler Higbee, which ultimately tore the TE's ACL, was NOT dirty ... according to Kerby Joseph's Lions teammate CJ Gardner-Johnson, who says if the Rams want to blame anyone, it should be their QB!
The tackle in question came late in the 4th quarter during the Lions-Rams playoff game at Ford Field Sunday evening ... when Joseph, a safety, hit Higbee low as he attempted to catch a ball running across the middle of the field.
The TV broadcast showed Higbee's planted leg bending backward .