After months of wondering whether or not safety Kerby Joseph will ever play for the Detroit Lions again, head coach Dan Campbell announced on Wednesday ahead of Week 8 that he'd be returning to practice, finally.
Joseph, who has not played for the Lions since their Week 6 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, has been working his way back to the team and rehabbing a tough knee injury. It wasn't as clear cut as the injury suffered by Brian Branch, who had torn his achilles at the end of the 2025 season, but one that just seemed to be lingering and painful for Joseph to deal with all offseason.
Getting Joseph back in practice, at the very least, is such a boost to the Lions' confidence on defense headed towards the trade deadline. Of course, getting through practice and landing back on the active roster will be another hurdle to overcome.
Joseph is back at practice for Lions ahead of Week 8 vs. Vikings
Without Joseph in the fold, the Lions have struggled to form an equivalent safety room to what he and Branch provide to the team. They've been going through a rotation that includes Chuck Clark and rookie Keith Abney II most recently, and they looked good in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Seeing how the secondary was even further strengthened by Branch's inclusion, you can't help but dream about the Lions' potential defensively with Joseph back in the fold.
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Campbell told reporters that Joseph has "checked all those boxes" in terms of looking ready to return for at least individual drills, but Campbell noted that the goal is for Joseph to join team drills late next week or early the following week. If he looks strong in those team practices, it's hard not to imagine that he could be back by the Lions' late November matchups - and a key game against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.
Joseph's return to practice further throws a wrench in previous trade deadline plans
If Joseph can get back to his prior form for this defense - which included three interceptions, four pass breakups, and 18 total tackles in just five games for the Lions in 2025 - it can push the team even further away from making any aggressive moves at the trade deadline. Obviously, this only helps out the safety room, but he's such a boost to the secondary that it could mask some of their deficiencies at cornerback a bit.
Additionally, their cornerback room hasn't looked too worse for wear over their last two games. It's a small sample size, but they've had strong performances for two games in a row, with Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and D.J. Reed looking especially like the starting duo the team needed to begin the season. Sprinkle in Khalil Dorsey and Roger McCreary at the nickel, and they've been perfectly average.
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