After a knee injury ended Kerby Joseph’s season last year. Many fans are wondering will he be ready for week one and can he return to the same level of play he once was at?
One of the biggest storylines entering Detroit Lions training camp is the status of All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph. After missing most of last season with a knee injury, one question looms over the defense: Will Joseph be ready to practice?
Head coach Dan Campbell did little to clear up the uncertainty during organized team activities.
“I honestly do not know. We’ve done everything we can do. He’s done everything we can do,” Campbell said.
Joseph’s injury remains one of the biggest mysteries on the roster. The Lions have only described it as a knee injury and have provided few details. Joseph first injured the knee in Week 4 last season but returned to play the following week without any apparent limitations. However, he re-aggravated the same knee in Week 6.
Initially, Detroit chose not to place Joseph on injured reserve, hoping he could return within a few weeks. Instead, his recovery took an unexpected turn. After missing six games, Joseph suffered a setback that ultimately ended his season.
Since then, Joseph has kept a relatively low profile. He stepped away from social media for a period before resurfacing earlier this year, appearing at Detroit Pistons and Michigan basketball games. While the Lions have not announced a timetable for his return, the lack of negative updates has left room for optimism heading into training camp.
Detroit made its commitment to Joseph clear before last season when the franchise signed him to a four-year, $86 million contract extension. The deal briefly made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history and reflected the organization’s belief that he is one of the league’s premier defensive playmakers.
When healthy, Joseph has consistently delivered. In 2024, he earned first-team All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with nine interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He also recorded 83 tackles, 12 passes defended and established himself as one of the league’s top ball hawks.
Over four NFL seasons, Joseph has totaled 20 interceptions, 35 passes defended and two forced fumbles. Before last year’s injury, he had been remarkably durable, appearing in at least 15 games during each of his first three seasons.
Joseph also opened last season playing at a high level, recording three interceptions through the first six games before the knee injury ended his season.
His advanced metrics underscore his impact. In 2024, Joseph earned a 91.3 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking first among all NFL safeties. He also posted a 92.2 coverage grade while allowing a passer rating of just 72.2 when targeted.
If Joseph is unable to participate early in camp or misses regular-season time, offseason addition Christian Izien is expected to step into the starting lineup.
For Detroit, Joseph’s return could be one of the biggest factors in determining whether the defense reaches an elite level. New defensive coordinator last season, Kelvin Sheppard coached Joseph for only six games before the injury last season, leaving plenty of room for growth as the two continue working together.
My expectation is that Joseph will be on the field for Week 1, even if the Lions take a cautious approach during training camp. If he returns to full strength and quickly settles into Sheppard’s defense, Joseph has the talent to earn another Pro Bowl selection and put himself back in the conversation for first-team All-Pro honors.
