The Detroit Lions’ depth problems in the secondary keep getting worse.
The Lions ruled safety Kerby Joseph out on Saturday, Oct. 18, for Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of the knee injury he suffered last month.
Joseph missed his sixth straight practice Saturday and wore a brace on his knee as he limped through the locker room after practice. He has played through knee pain the past two weeks, though Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was “feeling better” before practice.
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) walks off the field due to an injury during the first half against Cleveland Browns at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.
“He’s dealing with something and it’s affecting him right now so we’ve just got to get it to calm down, help him,” Campbell said.
The Lions (4-2) will be without their top three safeties and top two cornerbacks Monday. Along with Joseph, starting safety Brian Branch will serve a one-game suspension this week and top backup Avonte Maddox is out for the second straight week with a hamstring injury. At cornerback, Terrion Arnold will miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury and fellow starter D.J. Reed is on injured reserve with a strained hamstring.
Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin are expected to start at cornerback, Thomas Harper will play one safety spot and the Lions could use Loren Strickland, Jammie Robinson or Erick Hallett at the other safety spot.
The Lions also ruled running back Sione Vaki out with a groin injury and listed left tackle Taylor Decker and defensive tackles DJ Reader and Alim McNeill as questionable.
Campbell said Decker was “trending” towards returning after a two-week absence due to a shoulder injury. McNeill is expected to make his season debut after last year’s ACL injury, and Reader plans to play through a back injury that limited him in practice.
Wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David are questionable for the Bucs, while running back Bucky Irving and receiver Chris Godwin are out.
