It sounds like Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph will not play this week against the Los Angeles Rams, and the rest of his 2025 season may be in jeopardy, as well. On Friday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell
said Joseph suffered a setback with his knee injury during practice this Wednesday.
“Kerby had a setback, so obviously, not as—don’t feel as good about that,” Campbell said regarding Joseph’s availability this week.
Joseph has not played since Week 6 due to a knee injury that has lingered for much of the season. And while the Lions have been patient and hopeful that Joseph would build enough strength and stability in that knee, it now seems like that optimism has been shaken. Campbell admitted that placing Joseph on injured reserve is a possibility, given there is not a ton of time left in the season.
“Could be (a possibility),” Campbell said. “We’re at the back-end of the season now, so anything—even if it’s not technically long-term becomes long-term, because we don’t have many games left.”
When asked if it was a long-term setback for Joseph, Campbell downplayed it a little.
“No, it’s just, you know, it just bothers him, is the best way to say it.”
Detroit is currently down both of their starting safeties, with Brian Branch suffering a torn Achilles last week against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite losing both Pro Bowl talents, Detroit’s bench runs relatively deep. Avonte Maddox stepped up last week and had a strong game, and it appears the Lions’ No. 3 safety, Thomas Harper, is trending in the right direction after suffering a concussion last week. Campbell said he “feels pretty good” about Harper’s availability, and he’s not sweating the two losses in the safety room.
“Honestly, I’m not (concerned). I’m really not,” Campbell said. “I mean, I hate losing either one of those players. They are great players, they are great teammates. But as far as worried, I’m really not worried. I really do trust the guys that are going back there for us. I do, man. What you lose in a couple areas, you may gain in other areas, having some of these guys back there. So, no, I’m good.”
