Sports

Lions' Kerby Joseph lands on a list no NFL player wants to be on

SideLion Report · Jul 21, 2026 16:00 · 3 min read

Lions' Kerby Joseph lands on a list no NFL player wants to be on — Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell shakes hands with safety Kerby Joseph (31) during warm up at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Safety Kerby Joseph has been singled out as the Detroit Lions' player with the most on the line heading into the upcoming NFL campaign.

After not meeting expectations in 2025, the Detroit Lions are facing a big season in 2026. The franchise has an easier schedule, a strong offense and several players set to make impactful comebacks from injury.

One of those players is safety Kerby Joseph. Last season, Joseph began the year as a starter despite his knee being dinged up. He then missed eight games in a row before going on injured reserve late in December. Since then, there have been questions about how ready he is for this season.

The hope is that Joseph is very ready, because it's going to be a pressure-packed season for the productive veteran. After receiving a lucrative long-term contract extension last year, the heat is on him to prove that he can get the job done, stay healthy and be the force he once was in Detroit's defensive backfield.

The Athletic put together a list of every player in the league with the most riding ($) on the upcoming season. Unsurprisingly, Colton Pouncy singled out Joseph for the Lions given his recent injury history, contract status and importance to Detroit's defense.

Lions' Kerby Joseph faces massive pressure heading into 2026 NFL season

Detroit made solid depth additions this offseason in Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox and also looks prepared to use Christian Izien. That group could be expected to hold down the fort if Joseph isn't ready. As solid as they are, though, the Lions would rather see Joseph emerge as the healthy starter given all his experience and production, which Pouncy highlighted:

"Joseph signed a four-year, $86 million contract extension in April 2025, on the heels of an All-Pro season. But after missing 11 games with a knee injury — one that Dan Campbell said the organization won’t have an update on until training camp — there are reasons to be concerned about the investment.

"If the knee injury is indeed chronic in nature, it could force the Lions to explore their options after 2026. The Lions would love nothing more than for Joseph to return to form, but it makes the upcoming season a crucial one for the ballhawking safety."

It's undeniably a big season for Joseph, who needs to prove he can stay healthy and show that his knee injury is not chronic in nature. It cannot be overstated how huge a development it would be for the Lions to see him return to pre-injury form.

However, in terms of getting back on the field, Lions don't seem to be in a rush with Joseph and want to make sure he is in the best possible shape to make a consistent impact this year. While he looks to be taking meaningful steps toward getting back to health this offseason, Detroit's coaching staff looks content to play the long game.

Jim O'Neil, Detroit's safeties coach, was asked if he plans on being judicious with Joseph in practice. His answer? Not especially, because he wants his player to get back to an elite level. Doing so may not mean practicing every day, but rather practicing with purpose.

"Maybe not every day, but you need to practice," O'Neil stated. "You can't take a year off of football and expect to go play at an All-Pro level. That's everybody at every position. You need to practice to get the timing to have the chemistry. We got a lot of new guys, so absolutely [Joseph] needs to practice. Does he need to do it every day? Probably not."

When it comes to Joseph himself, O'Neil is happy with where he is and feels ready to put whatever plan the coaching staff and franchise believe will work to maximize the opportunity for their former Pro Bowler in place.

"I know [Joseph's] doing everything he can to get back as soon as he can," O'Neil added. "Dan [Campbell] and the medical staff have a plan. So, whatever that plan is, that's how we'll go for it and we'll execute it."