Allen Park — The Detroit Lions announced a trio of players will open this week’s training camp on the physically unable to perform list, including starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.
With Branch, the designation is hardly a surprise. The fourth-year defender, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, is still working his way back from a torn Achilles after he tore the tendon in early December. He’s not expected to return until the middle of the regular season.
Joseph’s availability entering camp had been more of a mystery. The 2024 All-Pro missed most of last season with a nagging, potentially chronic knee condition.
Joseph was in attendance throughout the early portions of the offseason program, but was held out of the practices as the Lions continued to monitor his knee. Asked about expectations in June, coach Dan Campbell was non-committal.
“Yeah, really, I don't know,” Campbell said. “I honestly do not know. I know this, we've done everything we can do and he's done everything he can do to this point. And we are trying to be as smart as we can and not push this until we absolutely have to, because once we've done that, then we'll know one way or another, and it's not worth it right now.
“We're just slowly building, continuing the strength in there,” Campbell continued. “He's getting treatment. He's done some of these different things at different places to try to help. So, I feel good about that. I feel good about that we've done everything we can and so has he. And so, we won't know. I mean honestly, we probably won't know until we get into the thick of training camp.”
Campbell declined to go into the specific treatments Joseph had tried this offseason.
In a recent poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts conducted by ESPN, both Branch (No. 4) and Joseph (No. 9) were voted as top-10 players at their position, despite their injuries.
That highlights the uphill battle the Lions face if they have to replace one or both for a significant stretch of the regular season. Cognizant of that possibility, the team invested heavily in contingency plans, bringing back veteran Avonte Maddox, and signing Christian Izien and Chuck Clark in free agency, to pair with the returning Thomas Harper, who started nine games for Detroit last season.
In addition to the two safeties, tight end Tyler Conklin will also start camp on the PUP list. The veteran, and metro Detroit native, joined the Lions on a one-year deal this offseason.
Conklin suffered an undisclosed injury during the earlier portion of the offseason program, which sidelined him for the final set of OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
In positive news, Sam LaPorta avoided a stint on the PUP list. Returning from last season’s back surgery, it was reported by ESPN last week that the star tight end had been fully cleared to practice.
Players can only be placed on PUP before the start of training camp. They continue to count against the 90-man roster, but are able to participate in all team activities outside of practice.
A player on PUP can be activated at any time during training camp. If a player isn’t medically cleared before roster cuts next month, they are transferred to the reserve/PUP list where they no longer count against the roster limit, but would be required to miss at least the first four games of the season. Once activated, they do not count as one of the team’s eight designated returns from injured reserve.
I know it's not the final word on Kerby Joseph, but it's not the best news. Not good at all. He's a helluva player and a difference maker.
I don't know how one could realistically expect any meaningful contribution from Kerby this year or next. It's sad, but these thing happen in this sport.