The Detroit Lions have already lost one starting defensive back from Sunday’s win over the Browns, and now another key piece of the secondary could be sidelined ahead of their matchup with the Bengals.
Safety Kerby Joseph skipped practice again on Thursday, marking his second straight absence as he continues to deal with a knee injury. His status for this week is uncertain, which could force Detroit to lean on its depth in the secondary.
Veteran Ready to Step In
According to John Maakaron of SI.com, Joseph has been managing this knee problem since training camp, and it flared up again this week. If he can’t go, the Lions are expected to turn to veteran Avonte Maddox.
“Avonte Maddox is a trusted veteran the team has grown confident in,” Maakaron wrote. “He already filled in for Joseph in Week 4, and his versatility gives the coaching staff peace of mind if they need him again.”
The Lions’ safety unit has been one of the strongest parts of their defense, with Joseph and Brian Branch widely viewed as the NFL’s top safety tandem. Before the season, SI.com’s Christian Booher highlighted the pair’s flexibility and dominance.
“Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch make up the league’s best safety duo,” Booher wrote. “Joseph earned All-Pro honors last year after leading the NFL in interceptions, and Branch continues to showcase elite versatility.”
Booher added that their interchangeable skill sets allow Detroit to play aggressively against opposing offenses.
“With their abilities, the Lions have a ton of flexibility in how they line up,” Booher wrote. “Joseph has improved as a tackler and can drop into the box, while Branch can play both near the line and deep downfield.”
Additional Injury Concerns
The Lions haven’t confirmed whether Joseph will miss the game, but they’re already down one corner and may be without another. Starter D.J. Reed was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, though he’s expected to return later this season.
Reed admitted he initially feared the worst.
“At first, I thought I tore it completely,” Reed told the Detroit Free Press. “I thought I was done. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.”
Rookie corner Terrion Arnold was also injured against Cleveland but has since returned to practice and could be available for Cincinnati. To bolster depth, Detroit promoted safety Loren Strickland and linebacker Ty Summers from the practice squad, while also adding cornerbacks Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad.
