The All-Pro safety has been cleared to practice, but Detroit still has to decide whether to activate him or shut him down for the year.
The Detroit Lions cleared safety Kerby Joseph to practice on Wednesday, opening a 21-day window for the team to decide whether he goes on the active roster or lands on season-ending injured reserve.
Coach Dan Campbell called it "a step in the right direction" for Joseph, whose 2025 season has been a mess of setbacks. The 2024 All-Pro last played on Oct. 12, 2025, appearing in just six games before an injured left knee failed to respond to treatment. He then spent a long stretch away from team activities while working out on his own.
This isn't new territory for Joseph. He also tried to come back from injury last year, only for the Lions to place him on injured reserve late in that season. This time around, he started the year on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
The clock is now running. If Joseph isn't activated within the next three weeks, he's done for the season. Detroit's defense, which could use the reinforcement, will be watching closely to see which way this goes.