Kerby Joseph (knee) to start season on PUP

Lions HC Dan Campbell didn’t sound optimistic about the prospects of Joseph, who is dealing with a potentially career-threatening knee cartilage issue, helping the Lions this year. In two separate media appearances in the last week, Campbell said that there wasn’t anything he could say about Joseph that would make anyone “feel good.” Pelissero reported Saturday morning that Joseph, who missed all of training camp and hasn’t played since last year’s Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, is hopeful he’ll be available to help the Lions down the stretch. While that may be the case, whether Joseph is able to return to play this year remains an open question. Without Joseph and S Brian Branch (Achilles), the Lions are severely shorthanded in the backend heading into Week 3’s home matchup against the Jets.

Campbell spoke in a dejected tone when asked about the Lions’ safety duo returning to practice, particularly when discussing Joseph’s outlook. Campbell said Joseph did not suffer a setback, but stopped short of fully explaining the situation. It sounds like Joseph’s recovery stalled. The training staff was focused on strengthening Joseph’s knee, “but there was a little time there where we weren’t able to do everything we needed to do.” The Lions will not ask Joseph to play until he gets his knee as strong as it can possibly be, “and he feels comfortable.” Branch could return to practice in the coming weeks, but at this point, Joseph’s career status seems like it might be up in the air.

Just yesterday, Joseph implied via social media that he would avoid the physically unable to perform list. So much for that. Joseph dealt with a recurring knee issue for the entire 2025 season, which was first reported on at the end of July 2025, roughly three months after the Lions made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Given Joseph’s post, one imagines he has a chance to resume practicing relatively soon, but only time will tell. Branch suffered an Achilles tendon rupture in Week 14 last year. As of June 13th, Lions coach Dan Campbell said there was no timetable for his return. The Lions also placed TE Tyler Conklin on the physically unable to perform list.

Lions veterans won’t report to training camp until Monday, but Joseph implied in a tweet on Saturday morning that he’ll avoid the PUP list. In response to a question about going on the PUP list, the 25-year-old safety wrote, “How much y’all wanna bet I’m not on there.” It’s not much, but it’s the first positive signal for Joseph’s health in quite some time. After missing the last 11 games of the 2025 season with a knee injury, Joseph was held out of minicamp. In early June, Dan Campbell told reporters he didn’t know what to expect from Joseph this season. Joseph started all 17 games in 2024, when he had a league-leading nine interceptions and was named a first-team All-Pro. The former third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft signed a massive four-year, $86 million extension prior to last season. Joseph’s 20 interceptions are the second-most all-time for a safety in his first four seasons (Ed Reed, 22). A healthy Joseph would be a game-changer for the Lions defense.

Campbell said that Branch hasn’t had any setbacks in his recovery from a torn Achilles, but wouldn’t put a timeline on the 24-year-old safety’s eventual return. Branch attended practice in a T-shirt and shorts on Thursday. Campbell jokingly set the timetable for Branch to return in December, just so the media would stop asking about it. Christian Izien and Chuck Clark continue to take the first-team safety reps for the Lions in practice with Branch and Kerby Joseph (knee) sidelined.

Joseph was named a first-team All-Pro in 2024, but played only six games last year with what’s turned into a debilitating knee injury. Campbell noted at Thursday’s press conference that Joseph continues to build strength in his knee and receive treatment, but the team isn’t going to push him until they absolutely have to. Detroit acquired veteran safeties Chuck Clark and Christian Izien this offseason while retaining Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper to give themselves options with Joseph and Brain Branch (Achilles) on the mend.

Both of the Lions’ starting safeties, Joseph and Brian Branch (Achilles), are rehabbing significant injuries. While it would be great to get one or both of them back on the field this spring, Campbell does not want to hurry his injured stars back and risk re-injury. Late in April, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said both safeties are “trending in the right direction.” However, last we heard, Branch was not expected to be ready to play in Week 1. Joseph will likely sit out spring practices, but seemingly has a chance to participate in training camp. Stay tuned.

Branch suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14 of last season. It was reported by The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy back in March that Branch isn’t expected to be ready by Week 1 of this upcoming season, but it’s an encouraging sign that Holmes likes how the star safety is trending. Regarding Joseph, the fifth-year safety appeared in just six games last season due to a knee injury and suffered setbacks in his recovery, resulting in a prolonged absence. Holmes said the team’s decision not to draft a safety ultimately had more to do with their board than the health of either safety, but he seems optimistic about their long-term availability for this upcoming season.

Joseph will, unfortunately, miss yet another game. Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters last week that the talented safety suffered a setback at some point. Landing on injured reserve was said to be a possibility, though, the team did not place him on it last week. He totaled one pass breakup and three interceptions in just six games played this season. Lions CB Amik Robertson (hand) and S Thomas Harper (concussion) are questionable to play.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said earlier today that Joseph “had a setback.” He also admitted that an injured reserve stint is possible for Joseph, though that would knock him out for the remainder of the regular season at this point. Joseph is managing a long-term knee injury and may not be able to make it back this season.