One of the more surprising cuts by the Raiders Tuesday was veteran Karl Joseph. The team’s former first-round pick returned after a year in Cleveland and seemed like he might be in line for a backup safety spot. But in the end, it was Roderic Teamer who the Raiders opted to keep and released the veteran safety Joseph.
You figure he wouldn’t be unemployed long. Today, the West Virginia alum resurfaced on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad.
Still just 27 years old, Joseph was the Raiders’ selection at 14 overall in the 2016 draft. Many predicted he would drop out of the first round that year due to a serious knee injury. But the Raiders picked him despite that injury and Joseph got off to a slow start while recovering from it.
Year two was his best season in the NFL. He started 15 games that season at strong safety and put up a career-high 79 tackles. Not only did he never reach those tackle numbers again, he never started more than nine games again and never had more than one interception in a season.
His return to the Raiders was a nice story. But it didn’t work out and hopefully, he can resurrect his career in Pittsburgh.
