Joseph (arm) registered 82 tackles and 11 passes defended including four interceptions over 15 regular-season games in 2023.
Joseph continued to make a name for himself in Detroit after posting a second straight season with four interceptions. The Illinois product also held quarterbacks to a 58.5 QBR in coverage while not allowing a touchdown all season. With Tracy Walker out of the picture and C.J. Gardner-Johnson uncertain to return to Detroit this offseason, Joseph enters the 2024 campaign as Detroit's clear top option at free safety and he has the potential for triple-digit tackles with double-digit PDefs if he can stay healthy for a full season.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Exits game with arm injury
Rotowire
Joseph (arm) is questionable to return to Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the 49ers, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Joseph sustained the injury in the third quarter. He had two tackles (one solo) before his exit. In Joseph's absence, Ifeatu Melifonwu will likely slot into the free safety spot alongside strong safety starter C.J. Gardner-Johnson, while Will Harris provides depth.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Has monster day at Minnesota
Rotowire
Joseph recorded nine tackles (six solo) and two interceptions in Sunday's 30-24 win at Minnesota.
Joseph's first pick came toward the end of the first half, and his second came in the middle of the fourth quarter. Both came on deep pass attempts by Nick Mullens. Joseph's nine total tackles were also good for the team lead in Week 16. The Lions will travel to Dallas Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Gets first INT of 2023 in win
Rotowire
Joseph had two solo tackles and an interception in Monday's 26-14 win over the Raiders.
His interception of Jimmy Garoppolo came one play after the Lions turned the ball over in Detroit territory. Joseph's two tackles in the win was by far his lowest of the season but came on a night when Garoppolo completed just 10 of 21 passes for 126 yards.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Leads team in tackles
Rotowire
Joseph registered 10 tackles (nine solo) in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Ravens.
Joseph left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game to be evaluated for a concussion, though Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reported Monday that the safety did not suffer a brain injury. His 10 tackles against the Ravens was a season high and he's now up to 31 total tackles for the season, which is tied for third on the team. Joseph and the Lions' defense will look to bounce back in Week 8 against the Raiders on Monday night.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Clears concussion check
Rotowire
Joseph didn't suffer a concussion in Sunday's loss to the Ravens, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Joseph exited the game late in the second half and underwent concussion testing, but it was deemed he didn't suffer a brain injury. The second-year safety has started all five games he's appeared in this season, registering 31 tackles (26 solo) and three pass breakups. He should be good to go next Monday night against the Raiders.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Set to play Sunday
Rotowire
Joseph (hip) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Panthers.
Joseph missed the past two games after sustaining a hip injury in Week 2 against the Seahawks. His return is a welcome one for a Lions' secondary that is without Brian Branch (ankle) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, (pectoral) who is still on IR.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Still limited on practice estimate
Rotowire
Joseph (hip) was listed as a limited participant on Detroit's practice estimate Wednesday.
Joseph has missed the Lions' last two games with a hip injury, and his availability for Week 5 is now up in the air as well. He'll likely have to manage a full practice Thursday or Friday in order to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Ruled out for Week 3
Rotowire
Joseph (hip) is inactive for Sunday's contest versus Atlanta.
Joseph hurt his hip early in last weekend's game against Seattle but was able to finish out the win. However, he didn't practice at all this week, thus his inactive status Sunday isn't a surprise. Ifeatu Melifonwu could take over as a starter in his absence.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Misses practice
Rotowire
Joseph (hip) did not practice Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Joseph left Sunday's loss to the Seahawks early with the injury but was ultimately able to return to the game and play 88 percent of the team's snaps on defense. He'll work to return to practice Thursday and get healthy for a Week 3 tilt against the Falcons.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Four picks as rookie
Rotowire
Joseph tallied 83 tackles, eight pass breakups, four interceptions and two forced fumbles over 17 games in 2022.
Detroit's defense took a big hit after losing safety Tracy Walker (Achilles) in Week 3, but Joseph was largely successful in filling in for the veteran. Not only did the rookie manage to become the first player to ever pick off Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers three times in a year, Joseph simultaneously showed plenty of upside as an IDP asset -- starting with his 10-tackle, two-interception performance against Green Bay in Week 9. However, with Walker set to return in 2023, it is not clear as to whether Joseph will continue to handle the role that allowed him to post these kinds of stats.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Dealing with back issue
Rotowire
Joseph didn't practice Wednesday due to a back injury.
Joseph recorded seven tackles during the Lions' Week 16 loss to the Panthers, but he appears to have picked up a back injury as well. The severity of the issue remains unclear, but he'll have two more opportunities to return to practice before the team needs to make a decision on his status for Sunday's matchup against the Bears.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Adds seven more tackles
Rotowire
Joseph recorded seven tackles (five solo) in Sunday's 31-30 win over the Bears.
Joseph put together another solid performance and was on the field for each of Detroit's defensive snaps (58). He's totaled 28 tackles (18 solo), four passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles over his last four contests.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Sustains concussion Sunday
Rotowire
Lions coach Dan Campbell said that Joseph is in concussion protocol following Sunday's 15-9 win over the Packers, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Joseph was evaluated for a concussion after colliding with cornerback Jeff Okudah on a combined tackle during the second of Sunday's win, according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com. The rookie safety logged 22 tackles, one pass defended and two forced fumbles over the first seven contests of the season, and he played at least 90 percent of the Lions' defensive snaps in all but one game since Week 4. Joseph will now have to clear league protocols before suiting up again this season, and his next opportunity to play will come against the Bears on Sunday, Nov. 13.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Handling full-time defensive role
Rotowire
Joseph totaled two tackles during Sunday's 29-0 loss to the Patriots.
After not seeing any defensive snaps over the first three weeks of the season, Joseph has logged 100 percent of them over the past two games in the absence of Tracy Walker (Achilles). With Detroit quickly falling out of playoff contention, there doesn't seem to be any reason for the Lions to not give the third-round rookie as much as he can handle the rest of the season. As such, look for Joseph to remain locked into a safety spot alongside DeShon Elliott when Detroit returns from a Week 6 bye.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Motor City bound
Rotowire
The Lions selected Joseph (hamstring) in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 97th overall.
The Illinois product showed ball-hawking ability in his final season with the Illini, when he moved into a starting role and picked off five passes. Joseph suffered a hamstring injury at the combine that prevented him from running, but he did put down a 38.5-inch vertical and a 123-inch broad jump. He adds depth to Detroit's safety room and could develop into a starter down the road.
