Campbell: Kerby Joseph Won't Return Until Knee Is Fully Ready

The Lions head coach declined to set a return date for the safety, who remains out while recovering from a knee injury.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said safety Kerby Joseph remains unavailable as he continues recovering from a knee injury that has sidelined him since the start of the season. Speaking on Costa and Jansen, Campbell explained that the team will activate him whenever his health permits.

"It's going to come as it comes and he's not ready," Campbell said. He added that once Joseph is cleared, the Lions want him practicing and playing right away.

The remarks shut down any thought that Detroit might accelerate his recovery because of problems in the secondary. Through two games the defense has surrendered 71 points, and cornerback Avonte Maddox is out for the year after foot surgery.

Joseph and Brian Branch can each be activated off the physically unable to perform list beginning in Week 5, but Campbell indicated neither will take part in practice this week. Branch is believed to be further along in his recovery, though no return date exists for either player.

Detroit added veteran Jalen Mills to its practice squad for extra depth, but he cannot replicate Joseph's impact. A full-strength Joseph down the line, Campbell's comments make clear, matters more to the Lions than a compromised version ahead of the Week 3 game against the New York Jets.