Kerby Joseph is likely to miss his sixth game in a row Thursday as he rehabs an injured knee. Dan Campbell said Tuesday that he doesn't see the Lions All-Pro safety playing on Thanksgiving against the Packers.
Joseph has been hampered by two separate knee injuries this year, the first suffered in training camp, the second in Detroit's Week 4 win over the Browns when Joseph slammed his knee into the Ford Field turf. He re-aggravated the injury in Detroit's Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, when he briefly left the game but returned, and hasn't played or practiced since.
Watching from the sidelines has been trying for Joseph, who's itching to get back on the field with his teammates. He signed an $86 million extension that made him the NFL's highest-paid safety after leading the league in picks last season and leads the team this season with three, two more than anyone else, despite his ongoing absence.
"I want to be out there, but I mean, if I’m not out there, I can’t be mad. I’m blessed to be here still, to be alive," Joseph said Monday. "Other people are in way worse situations than I’m in. I’m just blessed that I’m still here watching them, with the opportunity to come back."
As to when that might be, Joseph said it's up to the team and to God: "I want to come back. I’d come back right now if I could. But whenever I come back, I come back. I don’t want to rush it because if I come back too early and then I drop out again, then it’s going to be even longer, so man, I’m just going with the flow."
Campbell said earlier this month that Joseph's knee hasn't healed as quickly as the Lions expected, specifically that "the irritation is not going away as fast as we had hoped." While the condition is improving, "we’re not going to force this thing until we get it as calmed down as we possibly can," Campbell said.
"We were hoping it would resolve itself a little bit quicker, cleaner," Campbell said Nov. 4. "It’s just not there yet."
Campbell acknowledged Tuesday that "it’s very difficult" to hold back a player who's always raring to go.
"But to Kerby’s credit, man, he is rehabbing, he’s putting in the work, and he knows the work he’s putting in now will hopefully keep us from having to ride this wave up and down of, 'OK, he’s back, now he’s not able to go,'" Campbell said. "That’s what all this is about."
The aim is to stabilize Joseph's knee by strengthening the muscles around it, which suggests he's dealing with a type of tendonitis, and get him to a point where he's comfortable enough to contribute on game day.
"Doesn’t mean it’s going to alleviate some of the pain, but it’s going to make him feel a lot better and he will be more than functional," Campbell said. "He will be able to produce and be ready for the next week (without having to miss more time)."
Reserve safety Thomas Harper has played well in Joseph's place, which has brought Joseph joy as he waits to return. Claimed off waivers from the Raiders at the end of training camp, Harper has started the Lions' last five games, over which time he ranks No. 11 among NFL safeties, per Pro Football Focus.
Harper was guilty of taking the bait on the Giants' first trick-play touchdown last week, but turned around and had a key pass breakup on third down late in the first half when he closed hard on a throw to Wan'Dale Robinson to force the Giants into a field goal and delivered his first pick of the season in the fourth quarter when he read the eyes of Jameis Winston and made a diving grab in coverage.
"Man, I told him going into the week, 'Expect it, bro, expect it. The ball is going to be up in the air and as a safety, man, you’re gonna be out there with space, so when the ball’s in the air, it’s yours. Make your plays.’ And he made his play, so I’m so happy for him," Joseph said. "I was so happy seeing it."
Joseph said that when Harper first arrived, "I told him, 'It’s going to take everybody to win.' He was my backup, so him coming in and getting those reps and those game experiences, I told him, ‘Man, it’s going to be rough sometimes, bro, but you just gotta keep going, keep getting better, block out all the outside noise, no matter what.’ And that’s what he’s done, so I’m just proud of him."
Harper, at times, has shown similar instincts to Joseph. With the Lions desperate for a stop on fourth and goal late in the fourth quarter last week to keep their comeback hopes alive, Harper stepped up in coverage and took away a passing window to Darius Slayton, who was running a slant against Rock Ya-Sin toward the goal line, which allowed Ya-Sin to drop into the end zone and deny a pass to tight end Theo Johnson, who had a step on Brian Branch.
Ya-Sin, a seven-year vet with 90 NFL games under his belt, credited Harper, who has 10 NFL starts to his name, for alerting him to the play prior to the snap.
"It was Harp," said Ya-Sin after the Lions won the game in overtime. "Harp pre-snapped the location, I was able to come off of my guy and fall back into the end zone and help BB. It started with Harp, honestly. It was really Harp’s play … just Harp running the defense. Harp’s a really good player. He’s young, but he’s an intelligent player."
Joseph and Harper both turned 25 this month. Joseph, who leads the NFL in interceptions over his four-year career, including nine last season, is an open book whenever Harper needs advice. But he's been cheering for Harper more than coaching him.
"I’m not gonna be that guy in your ear telling you what to do, this and that," said Joseph. "You’ve been practicing all week, you’re a pro. If anything, you need my help, I’ll help out, but I’m not gonna overextend my coaching hat. Let them play the game. Right now I’m just spectating. And I’m still taking my mental reps. I gotta let them play the game."
Eventually, Joseph will be playing again, too. It's hard to say when, especially in a crunch of the schedule where Detroit plays three games in 12 days, but the Lions do feel like he's improving. It hasn't happened as swiftly as anyone would like, but Joseph understands the need for patience. All the Lions have to do is give him the word: "It ain’t nothin' to suit up."
"’Y’all know what’s up with me!" he grinned. "When I’m out there, you know what’s up with me! It’s just energy."