Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph had three interceptions off Aaron Rodgers during his rookie season, but he believes he should’ve had more.
When was drafted in the third round last April, Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph was advertised as a ballhawk coming off five interceptions in his final season at Illinois.
That came to fruition during his rookie season, as Joseph stepped into a starting role after Tracy Walker suffered a torn Achilles. He finished with four interceptions, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and fumble recovery along with 82 total tackles.
Three of Joseph’s rookie season interceptions notably came off Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, including two during a NFC Defensive Player of the Week performance in Week 9.
Joseph was in studio for NFL Network’s’ “Good Morning Football” on Thursday, with former teammate Michael Brockers serving as a guest co-host.
Joseph talked about his rookie season, and the joy of intercepting Rodgers.
And…missed opportunities to have picked Rodgers off a few more times?
Kerby Joseph says he should have intercepted Aaron Rodgers six times!
"I got him three times, but I’m not going to lie, it should have been five,” Joseph said. “It should’ve been five. That last game, I dropped that first one, and then that second one got called back. Actually, it should have been six. It should’ve been six. That one-hander, on that fourth down or that third down, I could get that.”"
Credit to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit for finding the clips, but there is something to what Joseph said.
#Lions
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 10, 2023
S Kerby Joseph — in the deep half (top of the screen).
The INT was erased (penalty). But we are looking at a DB drill tape here.
• Open/get to depth
• Pedal
• Open angle (zone turn)
• Closed angle (baseball turn)
• Drive/track the ball/finish
Really good. pic.twitter.com/W6lBnL1mIK
Kerby Joseph just saved a TD 😱 @JKERB25
— NFL (@NFL) November 6, 2022
📺: #GBvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/NERF3hGPfV pic.twitter.com/9REaGHPoQm
There’s another dropped interception by Joseph, albeit a pretty tough catch to make, in the third quarter of the season finale against the Packers.
So Joseph had a point about narrowly missed chances to double his interception tally off Rodgers, and it was backed by Brockers (a credible witness) during the conversation on “GMFB”. The tape backs it up.
Joseph was a special thorn in Rodgers’ side last season, and upcoming opposing quarterbacks have been warned.