Overview
- Coach Dan Campbell announced Wednesday that the Lions have designated Kerby Joseph to return to practice and started his 21‑day PUP evaluation clock after Joseph “passed every test to this point.”
- Under NFL rules Joseph may take part in practices during the window but will remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list and cannot play in games until the team formally removes him and activates him to the 53‑man roster.
- Joseph has not played since Oct. 12, 2025 because of a recurring knee problem that reports describe as degenerative, and he did not undergo surgery because doctors said it would not fix the underlying issue.
- Brian Branch’s return in Week 7 gave Detroit’s defense an immediate boost, and analysts say reuniting Branch with Joseph would add range and turnover threat that could change the Lions’ coverage options.
- The next three weeks will focus on how Joseph’s knee handles pounding, back‑to‑back practice days and any swelling, so his availability for Sunday’s game remains uncertain and will depend on the evaluation results.