Kerby Joseph knee injury analysis - Part 1
With Kerby Joseph heading to IR, a tumultuous season-long saga is over. Here is the complete analysis based on what we know as of December 20, 2025.
Let’s start with the full timeline…
Chronological timeline of Kerby Joseph left knee injury
2024 season Did not miss a game and made All-Pro.
2025 July training camp Bothered by an unspecified left knee issue the first few weeks of camp. The knee was still bothering him on August 14. He was able to return to practice on August 21.
Here is a pic of him wearing a knee sleeve in late-July (credit @DrLurker6223 for the spot).
September 14 (Week 2) Knee pops up on Friday injury report
September 22 (Week 3) Knee is on report all week
September 28 (Week 4) Injures or aggravates knee as he is blocking on an interception return. My hope at the time was for “only” a mild PCL sprain or a simple contusion.
October 5 (Week 5) Plays with left knee brace.
October 12 (Week 6) Did not wear knee brace this game. Clearly hampered by knee early in game. You can see in the video that he has discomfort with flexing his knee causing his foot to drag.
He ends up being helped off field, but then returns to finish the game. This was his last game of the season of which he played 6 games.
November 30 (Week 14) Dan Campbell provides first details of injury.
Key statements are:
“Trying to get some stability… which will help some of the pain and wear-and-tear… so it doesn’t wear out as fast.”
“I don’t think it’s necessarily going away but you do the best you can to manage it…. It’s like a lot of these guys that have deals which could be cartilage or meniscus…. There will always be a little wear-and-tear. It’s just how bad is it.”
“Bone bruise is certainly part of it… He’s got some wear.”
Kerby Joseph himself stated: “My knee’s messed up. Don’t fix it. Just keep the faith.”
December 1 Joseph starts the week with a limited practice which is his first practice since before Week 6. In this video courtesy of @colton_pouncy, you can see him trying not to put weight on that left leg.
He did not practice the rest of the week.
December 10 (Week 15) Joseph again starts the week with a limited practice and does not practice the rest of week. This was also his last practice of the season.
December 12 Dan Campbell in his press conference says there has been a “setback”.
December 20 (Week 16) Joseph placed on IR. While he is eligible to return in Week 2 of the playoffs, his season is likely over.