Safety Kerby Joseph's formula for getting turnovers in his rookie season with the Detroit Lions sounds pretty simple.
So does his reason for not setting goals for himself.
A strong case can be made that whatever he did in 2022 should be repeated in 2023. Joseph played a key role on a defense that improved dramatically as the Lions went 8-2 in their last 10 games to finish with a 9-8 win-loss record.
Joseph, who came to the Lions as a third-round draft pick from Illinois, played 17 games with 14 starts. He had four interceptions – three of them off former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Joseph also had eight passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
"All I do is trust my instincts – trust my ability to make plays," Joseph said at training camp Thursday. "I trust that my coaches put me in the right spot in order for me to make those plays.
"Also, I just run to the ball every time."
Joseph laughed when he mentioned running to the ball, but there is a practical reason for doing it.
"Because that's where the plays happen," he said. "You never know. There will be times where there will be a break-out run. You don't know.
"You're just running and you're able to get a punch out, which causes a fumble or your teammate gets a punch out and now you got a fumble recovery."
Joseph recalled a play last season against the Vikings when he was the beneficiary of a teammate's play near the goal line. Defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs punched the ball out.
"I was right there," Joseph said. "I scooped the ball up. It was my fumble recovery by his fumble."
Joseph showed a knack last season and in his final year at Illinois for getting turnovers. He said he's willing to play anywhere defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn wants him to play.
"He wants us to be more versatile," Joseph said. "I want to be everywhere and I don't want to come off the field. If I have to come down in the box then I'll play in the box."
View photos from Day 10 of Detroit Lions training camp on Thursday August 3, 2023.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (0) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Will Harris (25), Detroit Lions running back Justin Jackson (38) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Will Harris (25) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide tight end Daniel Helm (43) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89), Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld (10) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brady Breeze (35) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Darrell Daniels (86) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Adrian Martinez (18) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Denzel Mims (17) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Denzel Mims (17) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dylan Drummond (83) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Parker Romo (24) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes, Football Legend Dat Nguyen during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions long snapper Jake McQuaide (50) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Saivion Smith (23) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Justin Jackson (38) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Darrell Daniels (86) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell, Football Legend Dat Nguyen during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 3, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Joseph obviously feels comfortable and confident in a secondary that was bolstered in the offseason through free agent signings and the draft.
He isn't setting goals for himself.
"I don't give myself goals," he said. "I feel like those goals will limit my ability. I wouldn't say I'm going to get five picks.
"Then I'm only going to get five picks."
