The Detroit Lions are bringing in a veteran kicker to help mentor young Jake Bates. Detroit is adding Greg Joseph to the team’s practice squad, per his agent, Brett Tessler.
Joseph was the Minnesota Vikings kicker for the last three seasons. He made 80.6 percent of his field goal attempts in that span. The native South African has also kicked for the Browns and Titans. Joseph, 30, spent this offseason with the Green Bay Packers.
Like Bates, Joseph is known for his outstanding leg strength. He’s made a 61-yarder in a game back in 2022 and has hit five career field goals from 55 yards or beyond.
Bates was perfect in his Detroit debut, including a game-tying FG with under 30 seconds to play in the Lions’ Week 1 overtime win against the Rams. The team has floated the idea of bringing in a veteran mentor and confidant, and not a direct competitor, for Bates for some time.