Kerby Joseph
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on August 2 that it's time safety Kerby Joseph becomes a staple on defense.
The Detroit Lions already lost one starting member of the secondary in Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns, and now could be at risk of missing a third for their upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Safety Kerby Joseph missed practice on Thursday, the second straight day that the starting safety was not able to practice. Joseph has been dealing with an injured knee and could be at risk of missing this week’s game, forcing the Lions to rely on their secondary depth.
Lions Could Turn to Veteran Backup
As John Maakaron of SI.com noted, Joseph has been dealing with an injured knee since training camp and the issue has flared up this week. If Joseph is not able to play this week, the Lions have a veteran backup ready to fill in.
“Avonte Maddox is a veteran the team has grown comfortable relying upon,” Maakaron wrote. “He filled in when Joseph missed action in Week 4. His versatility has given the coaching staff added comfort, should the team need to call upon him again this week.”
The safety group has been one of the biggest strengths of Detroit’s defense, with Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch widely considered the best duo in the NFL. Before the season, SI.com’s Christian Booher noted the Lions have plenty of versatility with the pair.
The Lions have the league’s best safety duo in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Joseph was an All-Pro selection last season after leading the league in interceptions, while Branch had another strong year showcasing his elite versatility,” Booher wrote.
Booher added that their ability to move around the secondary allows the Lions to take an aggressive approach against opposing offenses.
With the skill sets of both players, the Lions have plenty of options when it comes to alignment in the secondary,” Booher wrote. “Joseph has grown immensely as a tackler and can play in the box for a spell, and Branch has shown that he can play both in the box as well as the deep part of the field.”
Lions Dealing With More Injuries
While the Lions have not yet indicated whether Joseph could miss this week’s game, the team already ruled out one cornerback and could lose another. The team placed starter D.J. Reed on injured reserve this week with a hamstring injury, with the expectation that he will be able to return later this year.
Reed said he was initially worried that the injury was much more serious.
“I thought I tore it off the bone,” Reed told the Detroit Free Press. “I thought it was a wrap. But that’s not the case, thank God.”
Cornerback Terrion Arnold was also hurt in last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns, but he has been able to return to practice and has a chance of playing against the Bengals. The Lions did bring in some reinforcements, signing safety Loren Strickland and linebacker Ty Summers from the practice squad. The Lions also signed cornerbacks Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad.