Don’t expect Kerby Joseph to be back on the field Thursday on Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters Tuesday, Nov. 25, that he anticipates the All-Pro safety will miss his sixth straight game as he continues his recovery from a lingering knee injury.
“Yeah, I don’t see Kerby this week,” Campbell said in Allen Park.
Joseph last played Oct. 12 in a 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“He’s rehabbing,” Campbell said. “He’s putting in the work. He knows the work is putting in now will hopefully keep … riding this wave up and down where, OK, he’s back, now he’s not able to go.”
In other words, the goal is to make sure Joseph is healthy enough that he avoids a potential setback upon returning to action.
“All of this about getting him to a point where we stabilize some of these muscles in this area where we get him to all right, here we go,” Campbell elaborated. “It 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, and he will be able to produce.”
Since Joseph has been out, second-year veteran Thomas Harper has started in his place. In that five-game stretch, Harper contributed 22 tackles and four pass breakups. He was also targeted eight times, surrendering five completions for 84 yards and two touchdowns.
On Sunday, during a 34-27 overtime conquest of the New York Giants, he produced his second career interception, when he lunged in front of Wan’Dale Robinson to snatch a low throw from Jameis Winston in the fourth quarter.
“He’s just taking the coaching and then just letting his athletic ability show,” defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend said earlier this month. “And like most times, the more opportunities that you have, more comfortable you become with it. He’s getting a lot of practice reps. He’s getting to see it and do it on the field in practice and you can kind of see it carrying over to the game.”
Kalif Raymond’s injury status unclear
Just as he was Monday, Kalif Raymond was listed as a non-participant on the team’s estimated practice report Tuesday after the Lions held their second consecutive walk-through. The veteran receiver and return specialist hurt his ankle on a 7-yard catch late in the third quarter of the Lions’ victory over the Giants, and didn’t play the remainder of the game.
“It’s a little stiff a little swollen,” Campbell said. “We’ll where he’s at with it [Wednesday].”
If Raymond is not available, rookie Isaac TeSlaa will replace him as the team’s third receiver.
Lions injury report vs. Packers
Here is the Lions’ estimated injury report after their Tuesday walk-through:
Lions roster moves open spots for injured players to return
The Lions made a flurry of transactions Tuesday, cutting three backups from the active roster.
Defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson was waived, as were cornerbacks Arthur Maulet and Nick Whiteside. The moves potentially free up spots for several injured players to return.
The 21-day evaluation windows for rookie guard Miles Frazier and Josh Paschal are due to close Wednesday.
If the Lions do not activate them before the deadline, both players would remain out for the season.
Frazier hurt his knee soon after he was drafted in the fifth round this past spring. Paschal, a fourth-year defensive lineman, has been working his way back from a back injury. After being listed as a full participant on the estimated practice report the team filed Monday, he was downgraded to a non-participant Tuesday.
Asked Monday if the team planned to activate Paschal, Campbell said, “We’re still deciding on all of that.”
But Campbell remains “hopeful” another edge defender, Marcus Davenport, could return to the lineup as early as Thursday.
“It would be big to be able to get him back,” Campbell said. “He’s done a lot to get back.”
Davenport has been on injured reserve since Sept. 22 after suffering a pectoral strain in a Week 2 victory over Chicago. Since joining the Lions in March 2024, the oft-injured pass rusher has appeared in just four games.
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph expected to miss sixth straight game
Reporting by Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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