Justin Fields alleges that the Detroit Lions employ players with a tendency for unsportsmanlike conduct.

In a recent episode of the St. Brown Brothers podcast hosted by Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions and Equanimeous St. Brown of the Chicago Bears, quarterback Justin Fields made claims about the Detroit Lions having players with a tendency for unsportsmanlike conduct. The discussion originated from a conversation about referees, with Fields expressing frustration about not receiving the same calls as other quarterbacks.

The context for Fields’ remarks included incidents during the 2022 season, such as a fumble that appeared to involve helmet-to-helmet contact in a game against the Lions and a similar hit during a match against the Minnesota Vikings. Another instance involved Fields attempting to give himself up in a game against the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph drew attention for a low hit on Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, leading to accusations of being a dirty player. Joseph defended himself, stating that football is inherently dangerous, and he had no intention to harm anyone. The hit resulted in a torn ACL for Higbee, and fans highlighted other instances of what they considered similarly dirty hits from Joseph.

Despite the negative attention, some Detroit Lions players, including linebacker Alex Anzalone, argued that the hit on Higbee was legal. Anzalone and others contended that smaller players like Joseph have limited options in tackling larger opponents, emphasizing the NFL’s strict guidelines against hitting high on defenseless receivers.

While Justin Fields and Equanimeous spoke in a light-hearted manner directed at Amon-Ra St. Brown, some observers believe there is validity to their comments about the Detroit Lions having players with a reputation for dirty play.