
Then, there’s the Pro Football Focus numbers: Joseph ranks first in overall and coverage grade, and 13th in run defense grade. Joseph’s completion rate allowed (59.3%) and passer rating (74.8) rank second and seventh, respectively, among safeties who have played at least 80% of their team’s coverage snaps.
Joseph’s snub didn’t even come from the fans, as he ranked first in voting among free safeties in that portion of the vote, which counts as one-third. Where Joseph fell short was in the players and coaches portion, each of which counts as one-third, also.
So, that begs the question: how did the people who are supposed to know ball the most not vote for Joseph, who is clearly having an elite season? Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn knows the answer.
“I think we all know that, but it is what it is,” Glenn said, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.
As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press points out, Glenn is referring to the idea that Joseph is considered a dirty player, a label he has been given by some after injuring tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Tyler Higbee last season.
Joseph was also labeled a dirty player by former Lions and current Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who called the safety “dirty as [expletive]” right after the hit on Higbee.
Hockenson, who was once teammates with Joseph in 2022, has since stated that he doesn’t believe Joseph was intentionally trying to hurt him.
“I know Kerby pretty well. I’ve played with him. I don’t necessarily think it was [intended to injure],” he said back in April. “You go back on the tape and you see what happened. I don’t think it was [intentional]. I just want to make sure it wasn’t and that’s why I’m using my voice here. Players protect players. That’s in any facet of the league. You don’t want a defensive guy head-hunting or knee- hunting, and the same thing for an offensive guy.”
Can we totally confirm that Joseph did not make the Pro Bowl because of the label he has seemingly picked up? No, but with his snub being so egregious, and with the view coming from Glenn, it certainly holds at least some weight.
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