The Detroit Lions have plenty of concerns heading into the 2026 season, with one of the biggest being Kerby Joseph's health. The former All-Pro was limited to six games due to a “chronic” knee condition last season, and this offseason has been filled with grim updates, including a photo of him receiving acupuncture treatment posted on his Instagram account.
With Joseph’s status for next season up in the air, any news is good news for one of the cornerstones of the Lions' defense, and they may have got it when he posted another photo of his story on Wednesday.
The photo, shared by Mike Payton of A to Z Sports, had the caption “YEAR 5 it’s a blessing” with a prayer emoji and showed Joseph in a meeting, paying attention and taking notes. While it isn’t as encouraging as an on-field workout, it does show that Joseph is in the facility and doing what he can to be prepared for the upcoming season, which might be a small hurdle to clear for a rebound in 2026.
Kerby Joseph’s Latest IG Photo Shows Strides Toward 2026 Return
Joseph’s knee has been a constant source of anxiety for Lions fans. He first reported the issues with his knee during last year’s training camp and eventually landed on the injury report in Week 2. After it lingered through the following week, Joseph aggravated it while blocking an interception return during a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns and was knocked out for good during a Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
From there, the updates haven’t been ideal. Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters last November that the injury included a bone bruise and was more about pain management and “wear and tear” than getting Joseph to full health. A failed comeback attempt in December brought concerns into the offseason. After opting against surgery, Campbell offered another lukewarm update when asked about Joseph’s availability at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“That’s tough to say. We’ve been treating him. He’s done a few things. We’re in – I would say – the position now to where we’re slowly working him back,” Campbell said via Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman. “What is this going to look like? How is this going to feel? Call it a month from now. We’ll have a lot better idea. Is this something where he’s going to be able to handle what he’s going to feel like, or can we get it stable enough, or can we get enough strength? It’s all of those things.”
The Lions added insurance in free agency, signing Christian Izien and Chuck Clark to one-year deals. But neither of them replaces the impact that Joseph has had with 20 interceptions since arriving in Detroit as a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. With a four-year, $86 million contract signed last April officially kicking in this season, the Lions would love to see that impact on the field once again, and with Joseph in a meeting room instead of a training table, it may be the first step toward seeing that happen in 2026.
More Detroit Lions News & Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google