Lions News: Detroit safety makes list of Pro Bowl sleepers

This Detroit Lions defender is being called a “Pro Bowl sleeper” this year.

The phrase “under-the-radar” and Kerby Joseph are used together quite often these days. I don’t think that’s going to stick around for long.

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra is the latest writer to choose this Detroit Lions safety as an overlooked candidate for one thing or another. This time, Joseph is one of a handful of selections as a sleeper contender for a Pro Bowl nod this year.

“You could toss several Lions secondary players on this list, but Joseph’s consistent play, coupled with an uncanny Johnny-on-the-spot ability, takes the cake,” Patra writes.

He’s right, it wouldn’t have surprised me to see Brian Branch on this list right next to the other half of Detroit’s dynamic duo.

“The safety’s six interceptions are tied for the NFL lead, most of which have come in massive spots or changed games. It’s not just those moments when Joseph has shined. His -39.1 target EPA is by far the lowest among all safeties (Xavier McKinney is next at -20.8). He’s allowed a 20.2 quarterback rating as the nearest defender, the lowest among all DBs, and his 45 percent completion rate allowed is the third-lowest (minimum 200 coverage snaps),” Patra continues.

A reminder: Pro Bowl voting is scheduled to open later this month.

Oh, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also named Joseph a breakout candidate for the second half of the season … even though he’s already killing it.

And on to the rest of your notes.

• We’re going with Legatron as a nickname, in case that wasn’t properly declared. By the way, if you don’t follow the Michigan Panthers account, you really need to—watching them hype up their former kicker has been nothing short of awesome.

• NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund offers win projections for each team, and your Detroit Lions are in the lead.

• Watch the Lions attempt to throw gummy bears into a Gatorade bottle in what I’m assuming is TikTok trend that I don’t know about and I feel old.

• No trap game for these Lions. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco continues to ride the Lions hype train and predicts yet another Detroit win in the record book this week.

• Head inside the Lions Radio Network booth with Dan Miller, Lomas Brown, and T.J. Lang for this week’s calls of the game (as of writing this, this video has 93,000 views. Wow.)