Lions safeties coach updates Kerby Joseph's practice regimen

With an abundance of caution due to his problematic and complicated knee injury history over the past year, the Detroit Lions elected to withhold Pro Bowl safety Kerby Joseph from organized team workouts this spring to give the star defender as much rest as possible before next season.

Despite the franchise's protective measures, Lions safeties coach Jim O'Neil gave a somewhat grim update on the former Illinois Fighting Illini, saying he's not sure when Joseph will return to the practice field or how much he'll be able to participate in training camp this summer.

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"I don’t know," O'Neil said before the Lions' final practice of minicamp on Wednesday, June 17. "I know he’s doing everything he can to get back as soon as he can. Dan (Campbell) and the medical staff have a plan, so whatever that plan is, that’s how we’ll go forward, and we’ll execute."

The Lions' interception leader during each of the past four seasons missed the final 11 games last season due to a cartilage condition in his knee that he indicated is potentially career-threatening.

When asked if Joseph needs to participate in the team's organized practices this summer, O'Neill said that he absolutely needs to practice in some capacity, while adding that it's unfeasible to expect anyone to immediately return to All-Pro status after a year off from action.

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"Maybe not every day, but you need to practice," O'Neil said. "You can’t take a year off of football and expect to go play at an All-Pro level. And that’s everybody at every position. I mean, you need to practice to get the timing, to have the chemistry. I mean, we've got a lot of new guys, so absolutely, he needs to practice. Does he need to do it every day? Probably not."

O'Neil said Joseph and safety Brian Branch, who's expected to start camp on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon, will be the Lions' expected starters if the duo can practice at full capacity prior to the 2026-27 season.

"If Kerby or Brian Branch is healthy enough to practice, those are our starting safeties."

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As the Lions look to restore their dominance in both the NFC North and the league-wide picture, Joseph's status entering the season will be one of the franchise's top priorities over the coming weeks.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions safeties coach updates Kerby Joseph's practice regimen