Lions’ Kerby Joseph underwent hip surgery, reveals timetable for return: report
The Detroit Lions’ unveiling of their new uniforms was a celebration on April 18. But Lions safety Kerby Joseph also delivered some terrible news.
Joseph told reporters at Ford Field after the team’s new uniforms were revealed that he had offseason hip surgery. Because of the procedure, he will miss the team’s offseason workouts.
The safety stated that he expects to return for training camp.
“Please bear with me. But I’ll be back,” Joseph told The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi.
Joseph sustained a hip injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. He missed weeks three and four and was categorized as questionable for week five. However, Joseph participated in Week 5 and was then removed off the injury list for the remainder of the season.
He recorded 82 total tackles in 15 games, the same number he had in 17 games as a rookie. Joseph also had one tackle for loss, 11 pass defenses, and four interceptions in 2023.
Lions’ Kerby Joseph undergoes offseason hip surgery.
Following a great rookie season in 2022, Joseph had high hopes for his second season. According to Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire, Joseph had a “up-and-down” 2023 season. However, the surgery he needed on his hip provides a simple explanation.
“The ball-hawking safety missed the next two games before returning to action,” he wrote. “His coverage range and closing burst were not the same for the rest of the season, however.”
With the safety undergoing surgery, the Lions’ goal is that Joseph can return healthy and better than he was in 2023. That would be a significant lift for the Lions, who ranked 27th in passing yards allowed previous season.
Detroit signed cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson this summer. The team could possibly look for a cornerback in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
However, the Lions have yet to address safety during free agency.
However, to his credit, Joseph did not utilize the hip ailment as an excuse while speaking with media on April 18.
“If I’m out there, I’ll give it my all. There is no obstacle. “I’m going to give it my all every time,” Joseph told Bianchi.
Lions Safety Depth Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft
The Lions could see Joseph’s hip surgery as a positive development. He could return healthier and better than last season, and he is anticipated to attend training camp.
However, if he isn’t ready for camp, the Lions may have a depleted safety corps to start the preseason.
While the Lions added cornerbacks in the offseason, they merely reduced their safety roster. Detroit first released veteran safety Tracy Walker before declining to re-sign C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency. Gardner-Johnson decided to return to the Philadelphia Eagles.
As a result, the Lions presently have only two other safeties on their roster besides Joseph: Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brandon Joseph.
However, while Kerby Joseph was among Detroit’s defensive leaders in snaps last season, Melifonwu only played 535 defensive snaps, and Brandon Joseph did not play defense at all.
Melifonwu demonstrated promise as a starter before the end of the 2023 season. But he definitely cannot man both safety positions. According to the current roster, the squad will miss Joseph in the safety room till he returns.
Given Joseph’s injury, the Lions will most likely need to add a safety at the draft or from the pool of undrafted free agents.
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