Coach Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions have been one of the NFL's better teams during his tenure, reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024 and building a first-half lead against Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers before falling the second half, and missing out on the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl.

Since then, a long list of injuries to star players including quarterback Jared Goff, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, safety Brian Branch, and fellow safety Kerby Joseph, a former Illinois Fighting Illini star, have caused Detroit to slip back into the NFC's mid-tier group of contenders. 

On Wednesday, Joseph made his long-awaited return to practice in Allen Park, Michigan, sparking hopes for a Super Bowl appearance as shared by star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. 

Detroit Lions star quarterback Jared Goff was caught off-guard by Joseph during Wednesday's return to practice as the 2024 NFL First-Team All-Pro safety squared off against him on the scout team. 

"It was fun today, I was out there and looked up, he's on the scout team lookin' me in the eye, I'm like, 'When the hell did you get out here?' 

"And, yeah it's fun, Branch gettin' back this past week, it's fun, it's exciting, those guys are great players for us and it's fun to have them back." 

Joseph played his last season under Bret Bielema in Champaign, Ill., his best by far in four seasons. He recorded 57 total tackles in 12 games, including five interceptions, two pass-breakups and three fumble recoveries.

Joseph has been a similarly high-level playmaker with Campbell and Goff's team in Detroit. which gave fellow star and teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown hope for a Super Bowl run.

St. Brown spoke to Stephen A. Smith about the Lions' Super Bowl prospects with Joseph back in the fold, saying that he is sensing that the window has opened with the former Fighting Illini star back and practicing. 

He said that the Lions have gotten other teams' best shots ever since they became a contender under Campbell in 2024, and have been adjusting ever since. 

The Lions' Joseph and Branch-led secondary has been banged up since its 2025 NFC Divisional Round Playoff loss to Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders, but is getting healthy in time for another run to the postseason. 

St. Brown knows the type of impact Joseph brings to the table, judging by his latest comments.

"For us we feel like the time is now, we gotta go win it right now, I feel like our window is wide open," St. Brown said.