Safety Kerby Joseph was among the Lions’ many standouts during a 15-win season in 2024. After Joseph intercepted an NFL-best nine passes and earned first-team All-Pro honors, the Lions awarded him a record-setting extension worth $86MM over four years.
Detroit was a top-tier team last year, but it hasn’t experienced nearly as much success this season. At 8-5, the Lions are just outside the NFC playoff picture. Various key injuries, including to Joseph, have contributed to the Lions’ decline.
Joseph sustained a knee injury in a Week 6 loss to the Chiefs on Oct. 12. Although Joseph has missed seven straight games since then, the Lions haven’t put him on injured reserve. However, that may change soon. Joseph suffered a setback in practice this week and “could be” an IR candidate, head coach Dan Campbell said (via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website ).
With four games left, an IR placement would end Joseph’s regular season. He’d be eligible to return during the playoffs, but the Lions would first have to earn a spot for that to matter.
Joseph’s ongoing injury issues mean Detroit will have to continue without either member of its all-world safety tandem. Brian Branch is done for the year after suffering a torn Achilles in a win over the Cowboys in Week 14.
Down their two best safeties, the Lions are set to face old friend Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ explosive passing attack on Sunday. That’s the last major test of the season for Detroit’s secondary, which will take on Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Chicago over the final three weeks. The Bears’ passing game ranks a middle-of-the-road 16th, while the Steelers (27th) and Vikings (28th) check in toward the bottom of the league in that category.
It flew under the radar in the wake of Branch’s catastrophic injury, but fellow safety Thomas Harper left the Dallas game early with a concussion. Harper’s questionable for Week 15, but Campbell is optimistic he’ll suit up. Claimed off waivers from the Raiders in August, Harper has been a terrific scrapheap pickup for the Lions. With 27 tackles, four passes defensed, and an interception in 10 games (seven starts), Harper has helped fill Joseph’s void. Pro Football Focus ranks him 23rd among 90 qualifying safeties this year.
If Harper clears concussion protocol, he’ll continue filling an important role on Sunday. Campbell pointed to Avonte Maddox , Erick Hallett , and Daniel Thomas as other safety options “getting valuable reps” in practice. While Campbell insists he’s confident in that group, it’s fair to say he’d rather have Joseph and Branch patrolling the Lions’ defensive backfield.