Lions' Kerby Joseph: Resets safety market with new contract
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The Lions and Joseph reached an agreement on a four-year, $86 million extension Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In the midst of many of his fellow Detroit defenders getting injured in 2024, Joseph played in all 18 games between the regular season and playoffs, and he parlayed it into a breakout as a playmaker with an NFL-leading nine interceptions, which surpassed the eight combined picks he tallied in his first two pro campaigns. The 2022 third-round pick has reset the safety market with the highest overall and annual values at the position, and he'll continue to hold up the back end of the Lions defense for the foreseeable future.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Four tackles against Green Bay
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Joseph tallied four tackles (three solo) in the Lions' 34-31 win over the Packers in Week 14.
Joseph has logged four combined tackles in three consecutive games, and he has played every single defensive snap in 10 of the Lions' 13 regular-season games. The third-year safety is up to 60 tackles (41 solo) and 10 pass defenses (including six interceptions and a pick-six) in 2024.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Nabs another pick in win
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Joseph recorded three total tackles (two solo) and one interception in Sunday's 52-6 win over the Jaguars.
Joseph picked off Mac Jones in the third quarter of Sunday's blowout win, bringing his season total up to seven interceptions through 10 games, which leads the NFL. The third-year pro has also recorded 48 total tackles and nine total passes defended while playing 100 percent of the Lions' defensive snaps in all but two games this year. He's expected to continue causing problems for opposing offenses as the season progresses.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Quiet performance in Week 10
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Joseph recorded two total tackles (one solo) in Sunday night's 26-23 win over the Texans.
Joseph played all 65 of Detroit's defensive snaps in the contest, but he was limited to a season-low two tackles in the victory. The safety has had a fantastic season nonetheless, compiling 45 total tackles (30 solo) and eight passes defensed, including six interceptions (one pick-six) over nine games in 2024.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Pick-six in victory
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Joseph recorded four total tackles and a pick-six in Sunday's 24-14 win over the Packers.
Joseph was able to snag yet another interception in Week 9, picking off Jordan Love with less than a minute in the first half and returning it for a touchdown. The safety has now snatched six interceptions in 2024, which is tied with Packers safety Xavier McKinney for the most in the NFL, though Joseph has played one less game. Joseph has had a spectacular start to the season, compiling 43 total tackles (29 solo), six interceptions, including Sunday's pick-six, and eight total passes defensed over eight games in 2024.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Late-week downgrade
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Joseph (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Joseph was listed as a full participant Wednesday, although the team didn't hold a practice and his participation was just an estimate. However, it's possible the Illinois product suffered the injury during Thursday's session. Either way, a clearer picture of the extent of his injury should come Friday when the Lions release their next injury report.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Practices in full Thursday
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Joseph (back) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Joseph was able to play through a hamstring issue in Week 2 against Tampa Bay, but he popped up on Wednesday's injury report due to a back injury. The fact he was able to practice in full Thursday indicates that he should be good to go for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Joseph has tallied 10 tackles (six solo) and one interception through the first two games of the regular season.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Exits game with arm injury
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Has monster day at Minnesota
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Gets first INT of 2023 in win
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Leads team in tackles
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Clears concussion check
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Set to play Sunday
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Still limited on practice estimate
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Ruled out for Week 3
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Misses practice
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Four picks as rookie
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Dealing with back issue
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Adds seven more tackles
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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.
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Lions' Kerby Joseph: Sustains concussion Sunday
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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.
