Kerby Joseph injury: Lions expect All-Pro safety to return this season

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday, Oct. 20, that he expects All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph to play this season.

Campbell wasn't willing to set a timetable for Joseph's return but sounded genuinely optimistic about his recovery, even as Joseph passes a full year since he last stepped onto the field.

"I do," Campbell said plainly when asked if he expects Joseph to play this season.

Joseph has battled a lingering knee injury since last year's training camp, which forced him out of the final 11 games of last season. Campbell hasn't been as optimistic about his chances of returning when asked over the last few months about the future of Joseph, one of the best free safeties in the game. Joseph recorded 20 interceptions in 55 games from 2022-25.

"He's doing well. I'll leave it at that," Campbell said. "He really is, he's doing a good job. I'm not gonna give you a timetable, but I've been pleased where he's at. He's in a good headspace right now, which is great. Because that's hard. You're coming off this, you're wanting to go, you're working at it, and at some point it's time for football. We all know that and recognize it, but we'll take it one day at a time."

The Lions ' defense has sorely missed their elite safety tandem. Brian Branch has also been on the shelf since Dec. 2025 because of a torn Achilles that ended his season. The Lions currently own the league's last-ranked passing defense (297.4 yards per game) entering Week 7, in part because two of their biggest gamebreakers haven't been on the field.

The team expects Branch to play against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Ford Field.