Kerby Joseph’s 2026 season is shaping up as a major test for both the former Illinois standout and the Detroit Lions.
The Athletic recently put together a list of the player with the most at stake for each of the NFL’s 32 teams heading into 2026, and Joseph was the Lions’ choice. That alone says plenty about where things stand after a knee injury cut into his 2025 season.
Joseph’s rise in Detroit has been sharp. Drafted in the third round in 2022, he turned into a difference-maker fast, piling up 35 pass deflections and 20 interceptions over four seasons.
His early production set the tone: 29 starts across his first two years, along with 19 pass deflections and eight interceptions. Then came the breakout.
In 2024, Joseph started all 17 games, finished with 12 pass deflections and an NFL-high nine interceptions, and earned All-Pro honors.
That season also came with a major payday. Joseph signed a four-year, $86 million deal, making him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at the time.
But the knee injury he suffered in 2025 changed the conversation. Joseph played in only six games that season and still managed four pass deflections and three interceptions, but his status going into 2026 remains uncertain.
He is still not practicing with the Lions, and there have not been many updates from camp. According to numerous reports, the knee issue could be chronic, which is the main concern for Detroit.
The Athletic’s list included a range of players with something riding on the season ahead, from star-crossed quarterbacks to wide receivers dealing with off-field issues and veteran edge rushers alongside younger offensive tackles. Joseph’s place on it reflects how much is hanging over his year.
There is no hiding the stakes now. The 2026 season is a proving ground for whether Joseph can get healthy and stay on the field. For a player whose game depends on movement and range, that matters even more.
And if the knee lingers, the fallout could be bigger than one season. Joseph’s start in Detroit was strong enough that an argument could be made he was on a Hall of Fame track.
An All-Pro nod in his first four seasons is rare. The next step is getting back on the field and showing that 2025 was a setback, not a turning point.
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