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The Lions placed Joseph (knee) on the reserve/PUP list Sunday, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.
Joseph was placed on the active/PUP list in late July and missed the entirety of the preseason due to a lingering knee injury he suffered during Week 6 of the 2025 campaign. The safety will need to miss the first four games of the season at least before he is eligible to return to the Lions' active roster. With Brian Branch (Achilles) also on the reserve/PUP list, Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark will likely be the starting safety duo for the Lions' Week 1 contest against the Saints.
Lions' Kerby Joseph: Could be back early in season
Rotowire
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Tuesday that Joseph (knee/personal) could be back on the field with the Lions early on in the upcoming regular season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Campbell relayed that Joseph is currently away from the team to attend to a personal matter but added that the fifth-year safety's rehab from his knee injury is "coming along very well." Joseph missed the final 13 games of the regular season due to a knee injury and opened camp on the active/PUP list. A stint on injured reserve may not be necessary for the 2022 third-rounder, though it's unclear whether he'll suit up for the Lions' regular-season opener against the Saints on Sunday, Sept. 13.
The Lions placed Joseph (knee) on the active/PUP list Sunday.
Joseph is continuing to battle a lingering knee injury that forced him to miss Detroit's final 13 games of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old could now be in danger of missing time during the upcoming campaign if he's unable to progress in his recovery.
