Lions WR Jameson Williams shares how he reacted to his new contract
Lions WR Jameson Williams said he hasn’t yet gotten the opportunity to celebrate his new contract extension.
The Detroit Lions have a new injury concern on their starting defense, but it’s not a major one.
Safety Kerby Joseph is listed as questionable for Sunday’s home opener against the Chicago Bears after he was added to the injury report Friday with a knee injury.
Joseph, who signed a four-year extension this offseason that made him at the time the NFL’s highest-paid safety, missed time in training camp with a knee problem but played all 48 defensive snaps in the team’s season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers.
After the game, Joseph lamented that he couldn’t do more to help the Lions win.
“I feel like I ain’t do my job,” Joseph said. “I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. I came out here and I was hot because I didn’t get the ball and I feel like if I didn’t get the ball, I ain’t have a good game.”
Asked if he had opportunities to force a turnover, Joseph, who the led the NFL with nine interceptions last year, said, “I got to make opportunities. That’s why I play defense. Nobody’s just going to throw me the ball.”
If Joseph is limited Sunday against the Bears, the Lions could turn to one of Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox or Thomas Harper as his replacement. Ya-Sin signed as a backup cornerback, but saw extensive time at safety during training camp. The Lions pursued Maddox as their No. 3 safety in the spring, but he played mostly slot cornerback this summer. Harper started five games for the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
Left tackle Taylor Decker also was listed as questionable after he missed practice all week with a shoulder injury.
Running back Sione Vaki (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday and linebacker Trevor Nowaske is out with an elbow injury.
For the Bears, cornerback Kyler Gordon will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury but starting linebacker T.J. Edwards and cornerback Jaylon Johnson were not given a game designation on the injury report.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.