The Detroit Lions unveil of their new uniforms was a celebration on April 18. But Lions safety Kerby Joseph also broke some bad news.
Joseph told reporters at Ford Field after the organization’s new uniforms announcement that he underwent offseason hip surgery. Due to the procedure, he will miss the team’s offseason workouts.
The safety said he expects to return by training camp.
“Y’all just bear with me. But I’ll be back,” said Joseph, via The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi.
Joseph sustained the hip injury during Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. He missed Weeks 3 and 4 and was listed as questionable for Week 5. But Joseph played in Week 5 and then was off the injury report for the rest of the season.
In 15 games, he recorded 82 combined tackles, which was the same amount he had during his rookie season in 17 contests. Joseph also had 1 tackle for loss, 11 pass defenses and 4 interceptions during 2023.
Lions’ Kerby Joseph Undergoes Offseason Hip Surgery
Joseph set expectations high for his second season after a stellar 2022 rookie campaign. USA Today’s Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon argued that Joseph experienced an “up-and-down” 2023. But the surgery he required on his hip is an easy reason to explain why.
“The ball-hawking safety missed the next two games before returning to action,” Risdon wrote. “His coverage range and closing burst were not the same for the rest of the season, however.”
With the safety undergoing the surgery, though, the hope for the Lions has to be that Joseph will return healthy and better than he was in 2023. That would be a huge boost to the Lions, who were 27th in passing yards allowed last season.
Detroit added cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson this offseason. The team could also target a cornerback in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
But the Lions have yet to address safety in free agency.
However, to Joseph’s credit, he didn’t use the hip injury as an excuse while talking to reporters on April 18.
“If I’m out there, I’m going 100%. [There isn’t a] hindrance. I’m gonna give it all I got every time,” said Joseph, via Bianchi.
