Detroit Lions All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph has rejoined the team at the Allen Park facility after missing several weeks due to a personal matter, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell announced the update during his media availability, stating that Joseph is back in the building and currently ramping up his activity.
Injury History and Recovery Timeline
Joseph has managed a chronic knee injury stemming from last year, an issue that restricted his playing time during the 2025 campaign to just six games, as reported by MLive. Throughout the offseason, the Lions maintained a cautious approach regarding updates on his health. Heading into training camp, Campbell placed Joseph on a timeline comparable to teammate Brian Branch, who has been rehabbing an Achilles injury suffered in Week 14 of last season.
Both Joseph and Branch were placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to open the season, ruling them out for the mandatory first four games. However, updated league rules permit players on the PUP list to return to practice following Week 2. Campbell previously indicated an expectation for both safeties to resume practicing at some point in September, keeping their recoveries aligned with original projections.
Rehab Progress and Coaching Staff Outlook
Lions safety coach Jim O’Neill provided further context on Tuesday regarding the rehabbing players, noting that they are working hard behind the scenes. According to O’Neill, both safeties remain active participants in team meetings and are heavily invested in their rehabilitation programs.
“They’re active participants. I know they’re crushing rehab from what I hear, and the videos I see. So, they’re doing good,” O’Neill told reporters, as reported by MLive. While O’Neill acknowledged that a final determination on a formal return-to-practice schedule rests with Campbell and General Manager Brad Holmes, he confirmed that the players are progressing well through their respective recovery phases.
Current Secondary Rotation
While Joseph and Branch complete their respective ramp-up periods, the Lions are utilizing alternative personnel at the safety position. O’Neill outlined that the team plans to deploy a combination of veteran Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox, and Thomas Harper to anchor the secondary during the initial weeks of the regular season.
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