At long last, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced that Kerby Joseph was returning to practice on Wednesday afternoon, potentially signaling the former All-Pro safety's return in the near future.
Joseph has been dealing with a cartilage issue in his knee, last playing in an NFL game on Oct. 12, 2025, against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the 2022 third-round pick has been gradually ramping up his off-field activity over the past several weeks, allowing him to return to the practice field on Wednesday.
Detroit may finally be getting healthy again on the back end of its defense at a critical point in the season.
Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch returned to play last week against the Packers, intercepting a Jordan Love pass early in the fourth
quarter of the Lions' eventual 20-17 walk-off win over Green Bay.
As Lions fans rejoice, here's the best social media reactions to Kerby Joseph's long-awaited return to practice:
Hello, Kerby 👀 pic.twitter.com/F8pLpxvhIm
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) October 28, 2026
Kerby Joseph is back. The Lions safety hit the practice field with his 21-day window opening.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 28, 2026
Photos by @CBrit24 | The Brad Galli Show pic.twitter.com/16TUn2mPTR
It's time. pic.twitter.com/fS0rHGxMLZ
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) October 28, 2026
ITS HAPPENING https://t.co/JJnNhOFTM5
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) October 28, 2026
LFG!!! KERB IS BACK! I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THESE https://t.co/0ehcLUWjhN
— Lions Memes (@LionsMemes) October 28, 2026
KERBY JOSEPH IS BACK.
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) October 28, 2026
DETROIT SHOULD BE NFC NORTH FAVORITES. https://t.co/ulL1K5hxyx pic.twitter.com/HkcUggiWds
If Kerby Joseph starts his practice window I think Detroit would explode https://t.co/xym7VOXAn3
— WriterWrong (@AnthonyWriter5) October 28, 2026
Kerby Joseph is back pic.twitter.com/zHaavvmP4o
— Jack Cousins (@jackcuz5) October 28, 2026
KERBY JOSEPH #OnePride pic.twitter.com/b7egU4KGnI
— Katrina (@kayboo1284) October 28, 2026
KERBY JOSEPH IS RETURNING TO PRACTICE!!
— Booner (@boonersports) October 28, 2026
NOT A DRILL KERBY IS RETURNING TO PRACTICE
We still could see a Kerby Joseph/Brian Branch safety DUO at some point this season... 👀 https://t.co/2YwhQ2YN5w
Beat Green Bay, Brian Branch interception and Kerby Joseph back in training all in the space of less than a week 🤣 yeah Lions about to win the Super Bowl #OnePride https://t.co/SssBT8VfpQ
— Ciaran (@CiaranS21) October 28, 2026
Kerby Joseph off PUP, NFC North QBs right now 😩
— Locker Room Leaks (@LockerRmLeaks) October 28, 2026
100% of Kerby Joseph is a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. The man has 20 INT in 55 games.
— 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟑𝟒𝟒 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (@Section344Lions) October 28, 2026
But I’ll take even 50% of Kerby Joseph. If he makes it fully back onto the active roster — even as a rotational player — it would be needle moving to say the least.
Still need to see Kerby in a uniform on game day but him being back to practice is NICE
— Sad Lions Fan (@AlmightyFeniks) October 28, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions fans, media react to Kerby Joseph's practice return
