Kerby Joseph’s return is becoming more concerning by the day. Dan Campbell’s latest comments raise serious questions about whether the Lions will see their star safety on the field again this season.
The Detroit Lions are set to return home this Sunday as they take on the New York Jets at Ford Field. An old friend will also be making his return to Detroit, as former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, now the head coach of the Jets, looks to pull off the upset against his former team.
Detroit is currently a 6.5-point favorite, which is the exact same spread the Lions had against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1.
Dan Campbell spoke with the media yesterday and also joined 97.1 The Ticket, where he provided some additional insight into the status of Kerby Joseph. When Campbell was asked by Jim Costa what he would tell fans who don’t believe Joseph will ever play again, Campbell said:
Costa: “What would you tell a fan that doesn’t think he (Joseph) is ever going to play again?”
Campbell: “Well, I wish I could make you feel good. I can’t make you feel good. It’s going to come as it comes, and he’s not ready. We’re trying to get him there as fast as we can, and we’re trying to be as smart about it as we can. And if he’s ready, when he’s ready, of course we want to play him and get him on the field.”
Costa then asked what would need to change, especially with nearly a year having passed since Joseph last played against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Costa: “What would have to change? Because we’re coming up on a year since that Chiefs game. If he’s unable to practice, what would change for him to get out there?”
Campbell: “I guess, nothing.”
That answer certainly isn’t what Lions fans wanted to hear.
Joseph signed a four-year, $85 million contract with Detroit last year, and the structure of that deal makes his situation even more interesting.
The Lions gave Joseph relatively small base salaries throughout the contract, with his highest scheduled salary being just $1.435 million in 2029. Instead, a significant portion of the money comes through option bonuses.
Those bonuses work similarly to signing bonuses because their salary-cap charges are spread across multiple years, up to a maximum of five seasons. Here is how the bonuses are structured:
* 2026: $9.625 million option bonus — $1.925 million annual cap charge
* 2027: $16.58 million option bonus — $3.316 million annual cap charge
* 2028: $19.035 million option bonus — $3.807 million annual cap charge
* 2029: $23.905 million option bonus — $4.781 million annual cap charge
The benefit for Detroit is that the cap hit isn’t all taken at once. Instead, the bonus is essentially spread out over five years.
For example, Joseph’s $9.625 million option bonus for 2026 doesn’t count entirely against Detroit’s cap this season. Instead, $1.925 million is charged annually over the five-year period. If that same $9.625 million had been classified entirely as salary, the full amount would have counted against the Lions’ 2026 salary cap.
There is a downside, however.
If Detroit eventually decides to move on from Joseph before the contract expires, the remaining prorated bonus money can become a significant cap issue. Once the Lions exercise an individual option, that money becomes guaranteed.
If the contract is terminated, the remaining prorated bonus amounts that have not yet counted against the cap would accelerate onto the cap immediately. So while the structure gives Detroit some short-term flexibility, it could also create a massive dead-cap hit if the team moves on early.
And honestly, the latest update on Joseph is extremely concerning.
I hope I’m wrong, but it’s starting to feel like the Lions may not see Joseph play another snap this season. Every update seems to make the situation sound worse. Initially, I expected Joseph to have a chance to return following the Week 6 bye, but based on Campbell’s latest comments, that timeline now appears far from certain.
Campbell also provided an update on Brian Branch, saying he will not be activated this week and is more likely to return following the Week 6 bye.
With Avonte Maddox now ruled out for the season, the Lions are being forced to explore every possible option in the secondary.
Detroit would sign rookie safety Bishop Fitzgerald off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. Fitzgerald recorded five interceptions at USC last season and will now get an opportunity to join a Lions secondary that desperately needs reinforcements.
To make room for Fitzgerald, Detroit released linebacker Joe Bachie and placed Maddox on injured reserve.
The Lions also signed veteran cornerback Jalen Mills to the practice squad. Mills spent time with Detroit in 2025 and brings 10 years of NFL experience to the room.
Neither Fitzgerald nor Mills should be expected to immediately transform Detroit’s secondary. Fitzgerald is a rookie who is just beginning his NFL career, while Mills is joining the practice squad rather than stepping directly into a starting role.
Still, the message from Detroit is clear: The Lions know they have a serious problem in the secondary, and they are trying anything they can to find solutions.
