It appears All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph won’t play Sunday, Nov. 20, for the Detroit Lions against the New York Giants and will miss his fifth straight game, coach Dan Campbell said Monday.
“If you ask me right now, I don’t know if I see him ‘in’ this week, but he is getting better,” Campbell said.
Joseph, who has been dealing with a lingering knee injury, last appeared in an Oct. 12 loss to Kansas City. Thomas Harper has made four starts in his place.
Campbell seemed optimistic that another member of the secondary, cornerback D.J. Reed, could be nearing a return in time to face the Giants. Reed, on injured reserve since suffering a hamstring strain in a Sept. 28 victory over Cleveland, began practicing again last Wednesday. He was initially listed as questionable heading into the game against Philadelphia but was downgraded to out last Saturday.
“We’re going to get him a week of work here and see where he’s at,” Campbell said.
Campbell also indicated that reserve linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is in line to be activated, no surprise considering his 21-day evaluation window expires soon. Rodriguez, on the physically unable to perform list since July, hasn’t played since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Thanksgiving. He returned to practice Oct. 29 and was a full participant the entirety of last week, according to the team’s injury report.
The Lions are planning to open the 21-day practice window for cornerback and special teams contributor Khalil Dorsey this week, according to Campbell. Dorsey was listed with a concussion and wrist injury on the team’s official report before he was placed on injured reserve Oct. 8.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions defense injury update: Kerby Joseph, Malcolm Rodriguez
