Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph wasn’t able to take part in spring practices after he had offseason surgery to take care of a hip issue that bothered him during the 2023 campaign.
But Joseph made it clear in April that he will be ready to go for training camp. He recently joined “The Insiders” on NFL Network and gave a positive update on his progress, saying he feels much better after having the procedure.
“Oh, for sure. That hip ain’t nothing,” Joseph said. “Last year, I played through the injury. It was there, but I feel 10 times better now, so I just can’t wait to get out there with the guys.”
Joseph has tallied eight interceptions over his first two years in the NFL, including four in 2023. He has his sights set on more game-changing plays in his third season.
“Everybody on the hit list,” Joseph said. “Every quarterback I go against. ‘Cause it’s amazing to catch an interception in the NFL. It’s just big. It’s a big moment. Going against Aaron Rodgers, catching interceptions against him, that’s just big. I just want them all.”
Joseph is expected to reprise his role as one of the starting safeties in 2024 after what was a career year for him in 2023, but the Lions could have a new wrinkle at the position, as the team is at least exploring using Brian Branch there more.
It’ll be interesting to see whose snaps Branch will cut into if that comes to fruition, whether that be Joseph’s or Ifeatu Melifonwu’s, or both.
The Detroit Lions bad day got even worse early in the second half. Mohamed Ibrahim, signed just this week to the practice squad, caught a kickoff midway through the third quarter, but took a big shot to the midsection on the return. He would eventually have to be carted off.
According to coach Dan Campbell, Ibrahim was immediately sent to a local hospital for surgery on a dislocated hip.
“Mo’s in the hospital and he’s having surgery right now,” Campbell said in his postgame press conference. “Sounds like he’ll be okay, but he’s going to stay here overnight. He’s tough. I hate that for him.”
It’s a horrible break for Ibrahim, as the rookie running back has spent a ton of his football career fighting injuries. In 2021, he suffered a gruesome Achilles injury in the opening game of the Minnesota Gophers’ season. Then, in training camp this year with the Lions, he suffered an injury that caused him to go on IR and eventually reached an injury settlement with the team.
It’s another tough injury for Lions running backs. Zonovan Knight is already out for the year with a shoulder injury. David Montgomery is expected to miss more time with a rib injury, Jahmyr Gibbs just returned after missing a few games with a hamstring, and Craig Reynolds played through his own hamstring issue on Sunday.
Thankfully, the news was much better for wide receiver Kalif Raymond, who left the game late after coming up limping following a punt return.
“Kalif is alright. He got some cramps at the end, but he’ll be fine,” Campbell said.
The Lions will have an extra day to prepare for next week, as they face the Las Vegas Raiders on “Monday Night Football” in Detroit.
