# Is Kerby Joseph expected to play in Week 1 after his injury?

No, Kerby Joseph is **not** expected to play in Week 1. He was officially placed on the **PUP list** on August 30 as the Lions finalized their 53-man roster, which means he'll miss at least the first four games of the season (from the Kerby Joseph page).

He has a chronic cartilage condition in his left knee — his last game appearance was October 12, 2025. Dan Campbell set expectations clearly, saying "if we got him back for the first game, that would be a bonus," which signaled the team wasn't counting on him. He'll be eligible to return as early as **Week 5** (Oct. 11), assuming he gets cleared to practice after two weeks on reserve/PUP under the NFL's new rule.

Veteran **Chuck Clark** is expected to start in his place alongside Brian Branch (who's also out with an Achilles injury, so Detroit's safety depth is thin).

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Answered 2026-09-04 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/is-kerby-joseph-expected-to-play-in-week-1-after-his-injury