ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have made the tough decision to give All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph an extra week of rest before heading into the bye.
Joseph (knee) has been ruled out for the team’s Monday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Safety Brian Branch will miss the game while serving his one-game suspension, as well.
And with D.J. Reed on injured reserve, and Avonte Maddox (hamstring) and Terrion Arnold (shoulder) ruled out, the Lions will be without their top three safeties and two of their top three cornerbacks.
Joseph has been dealing with a knee injury since training camp. It’s continued to creep up, keep him out of practice, and cause him to exit for a spell in two of the last three games.
The Lions have said Joseph is doing and feeling better. But the safety simply needs more time to rest, and now he’ll get it for two weeks.
Arnold returned to practice this week. But he’ll get an extra week to heal up and try to return after the bye against the Minnesota Vikings.
Look for Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin to start at outside cornerback. Detroit’s defense will likely continue to rotate pieces at nickelback. Last week, linebackers Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes handled most of the work there, while Arthur Maulet provided depth.
Thomas Harper played some snaps at safety when Joseph went down with an injury in Kansas City. The Lions also signed safety Jammie Robinson earlier this week, and the 24-year-old could see a role in his debut with the team despite being a late addition. Erick Hallett II is another name to watch based on his versatility between safety and corner.
The Lions are listing left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder), defensive lineman Alim McNeill (knee) and defensive tackle D.J. Reader (back) as questionable.
Decker is trending in the right direction toward making his return after a two-game absence. He remains someone to watch, though, as the Lions have preached taking the long-term approach with his lingering shoulder injury. He did not practice to end the week on Saturday, but he has a good chance to be back in his spot at left tackle on Monday.
McNeill is expected to make his long-awaited season debut. He’s been back at practice for three weeks now and has been a full participant for the last two. Reader missed a practice earlier this week, but was back at there for two straight days to end the week.
Dan Campbell said McNeill is “freaking playing” unless something unforeseen happens. McNeill added that he’s“100%” ready to roll against the Buccaneers.
“Just knowing me, and I don’t take things for granted at all. It’s for sure gonna be a huge moment,” McNeill said earlier this week. “But just knowing me, it’s just gonna be another game day for me. I’m not gonna sit here and try to make a big deal out of it and all this and that.
“You know, people get hurt and come back all the time. So it’s like, why would I make a big deal out of it? Let’s just go play football. I know how I’m gonna be. I’m just gonna go out there and hoop and do what I do.”
The veteran defensive lineman told reporters he’s all good and is simply “just old.”
The Lions also ruled out running back Sione Vaki (groin). Vaki has been out since suffering a groin injury against the Baltimore Ravens nearly one month ago.
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