Lions safety reveals who's on his 'hit list' in 2024

Lions safety Kerby Joseph is heading into his third season in the league, which he knows brings big expectations.

The 23-year-old has already had an impressive start to his NFL career, amassing 164 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, eight interceptions and 19 passes defensed in his first two years.

However, Joseph wants to take his ballhawk skills to another level in 2024, intercepting as many opposing quarterbacks as possible.

"Everybody on the hit list," Joseph said via Nick Shook of NFL.com. "Every quarterback I go against. 'Cause it's amazing to catch an interception in the NFL. It's just big. It's a big moment. Going against Aaron Rodgers, catching interceptions against him, that's just big. I just want them all."

Joseph began his career by picking off Rodgers three times as a rookie, but he has his sights set on adding more quarterbacks to that collection.

To do that, he must be fully healthy after having hip surgery this offseason, but he's confident his injury is already behind him.

"Oh, for sure. That hip ain't nothing," Joseph added. "Last year, I played through the injury. It was there, but I feel 10 times better now, so I just can't wait to get out there with the guys."

He also revealed that he gained about 15 pounds this offseason so that his body could handle the physicality of playing defense, though he isn't changing his mentality.

"I feel like, for me, I'm finna just tackle how I've always been tackling," Joseph concluded. "Just get them down however it happens, whatever happens, happens. I'm not gonna think too much about it. If I see ball, I'm gonna go get the ball."

Joseph must first earn his starting job back. Head coach Dan Campbell isn't ready to name anyone a starter in the secondary yet.

"The talent level, the competitiveness, the versatility, honestly, we have no idea who our starting lineup is gonna be right now, and it's exciting," Campbell said via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "There's no telling who's gonna be our outside corners, who's gonna be our nickel, who's gonna be our safeties. This thing is wide open across the board."

If Joseph continues playing the way he has, Detroit will be forced to keep him on the field.