Dan Campbell didn't put a timeline on it, but the Detroit Lions coach said he expects All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph to be back in the lineup at some point this year.
"I'm not going to give you a timetable, but I’m pleased with where he’s at," Campbell said. "He’s in a good headspace right now, which is great because that’s hard. You’re coming off of this, you’re wanting to go and you’re working at it, and at some point it’s time for football. We all know that and recognize it, but we take it one day at a time."
Joseph has not played in 373 days, since a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Oct. 12, because of a cartilage issue in his knee.
He opened the season on the physically unable to perform list and has not practiced this season
Joseph said in late July he was "optimistic" he'd back early in the season, but he missed a large chunk of training camp for personal reasons, which set back his rehab.
Joseph has been in good spirits in the locker room and as an observer at practice, which is in stark contrast to the dispirited mood he was in late last season when he tried to return from his injury but could not deal with the pain.
"He’s doing well," Campbell said. "I’ll leave it at that. Really is. He’s doing a good job."
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The Lions, 3-2 and coming off their bye week, are expected to get starting safety Brian Branch back from the PUP list for this week's game against the Green Bay Packers. Branch returned to practice before the bye but has not been added to the 53-man roster yet.
Campbell said he expects Branch to play Sunday, Oct. 25, though he may be on a snap count.
Chuck Clark, who's started every game at safety this year, and rookie Keith Abney, who played extensively at free safety in the Lions' Week 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals, could share playing time at the second safety spot opposite Branch, Campbell said.
"Here’s what great about getting BB back," Campbell said. "BB gives you the flexibility of, what do you want to do with anybody else? And because there’s things you’re going to want to do with BB high, let him play top down, and then there’s things you want him to play underneath. And that doesn’t require somebody else playing off of him necessarily. He’ll make it right. That’s the beauty of – that’s where he and Kerby, man, go a long way. You’ve got safeties that are versatile and can do a lot of different jobs."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions expect to have Kerby Joseph at some point this season