Lions’ Kerby Joseph, NFL interception leader, declined Pro Bowl

On By Littum

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The Detroit Lions will be well represented when the 2025 Pro Bowl selections are announced Thursday, but one player who won’t be on the list could be this year’s biggest snub.

Lion’s safety Kerby Josephwho leads the NFL with nine interceptions, was not one of the three safeties selected to the NFC Pro Bowl roster, the Free Press learned Wednesday night.

Joseph finished first in fan poll by free safetyahead of three other NFC players: Xavier McKinney of the Green Bay Packers, Camryn Bynum of the Minnesota Vikings and Reed Blankenship of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lion’s safety Brian Branchwho finished second in fan voting as a high safety was selected to the Pro Bowl.

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Votes from fans, players and coaches each count for one-third of the final vote.

Joseph tweeted Wednesday night a confused reaction GIF without the need for words.

Joseph ranks third on the Lions with 76 tackles and is tied for the NFL lead with 12 pass breakups among safeties. He had two interceptions in Monday night’s win over the San Francisco 49ers and had a third interception voided by penalty, the second pick he has lost by penalty this season.

“My superpower, I feel, is taking the ball away,” Joseph said Monday, adding that it was his goal to lead the NFL in picks in 2024.

McKinney, expected to make the Pro Bowl when rosters are announced at 9 Thursday on NFL Network, is second in the league with seven interceptions.

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“I imagined it,” Joseph said Monday. “I don’t want to imagine it. I mean, I knew this was going to happen. I just feel like I didn’t really put a number on it, man, I just wanted to lead the pack. I wanted to separate myself , I wanted to be different. I don’t want to be an average Joe, I want to be good to say, ‘Yeah, I deserve that gold jacket one day,’ so I feel like every year I just get better, get better, and I never think I’ll stop.”

Joseph, 24, was a third-round draft pick of the Lions in 2022 out of Illinois. He had four picks in each of his first two seasons.

Branch, a 2023 second-round pick out of Alabama, has four picks and 103 total tackles in 15 games this season.

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.