Joshua Kalu Explained

Joshua Kalu
Position:Safety
Birth Date:28 August 1995
Birth Place:Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:203
High School:Alief Taylor (Houston)
College:Nebraska (2014–2017)
Undraftedyear:2018
Pastteams:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:68
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:2
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statlabel5:Pass deflections
Statvalue5:6
Statlabel6:Interceptions
Statvalue6:1
Pfr:KaluJo00

Joshua Elekwachi Kalu (born August 28, 1995) is an American professional football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Nebraska and signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Kalu has also been a member of the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Miami Dolphins.

Early life

Kalu was born on August 28, 1995, in Houston, Texas.[1] He attended Alief Taylor High School in Alief, Texas, where he played football at the safety position.[2] He is of Nigerian descent.[3]

College career

Kalu played as a defensive back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team for four years from 2014 to 2017. He appeared in a total of 46 games for Nebraska, missing only three games as a senior due to injury.[4] He compiled seven interceptions and 215 tackles.[5] In 2017, Nebraska's coaching staff moved him from the cornerback to the safety position.[6] [7] During his recruitment and playing career with Nebraska, he had six separate position coaches due to repeated staff turnover.[2]

College statistics

YearGSoloAstTotSacksIntPDFFFR
2014122072711312
201513 51247513700
201613 481866111100
20179 34134702601

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

On May 11, 2018, the Tennessee Titans signed Kalu as an undrafted free agent.[8] On August 12, 2018, Kalu was released by the Titans, but was re-signed eight days later.[9] [10] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[11] [12] He was promoted to the active roster on December 1, 2018.[13] Kalu mainly played on special teams and finished the season with 4 tackles.

On September 2, 2019, Kalu was placed on injured reserve.[14] He was designated for return from injured reserve on October 30, 2019, and began practicing with the team again.[15] He was added to the 53-man roster on November 2, 2019.[16] On November 10, 2019, in Week 10, Kalu blocked a game-tying field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 35-32 upset victory.[17] Kalu finished the 2019 regular season with six tackles and one pass defense.

Kalu finished the 2020 regular season with a career-high 16 tackles.

New York Giants

On March 30, 2021, Kalu signed a contract with the New York Giants.[18] In his first preseason game with the Giants, Kalu suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.[19]

Tennessee Titans (second stint)

On July 23, 2022, Kalu signed with the Titans.[20] In Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Kalu intercepted Justin Herbert for his first career interception. Herbert's pass was first caught by Roger McCreary, who tossed the ball to Kalu before he fell out of bounds.[21]

Washington Commanders

On August 8, 2023, Kalu signed with the Washington Commanders.[22] On August 28, he was released as part of final roster cuts before the start of 2023 season.[23]

Miami Dolphins

On August 30, 2023, Kalu signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad.[24] He was released on September 19.

Washington Commanders (second stint)

On October 10, 2023, the Commanders signed Kalu to their practice squad.[25] He became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired after the season.[26]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
TEN5 0 4 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
TEN8 0 6 6 0 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
TEN15 0 16 12 4 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0
Career 28 0 26 22 4 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0

Postseason

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: August 11, 2016 . Kalu benefiting from 'different level of focus' . Lincoln Journal Star .
  2. News: January 30, 2018 . NU changes failed to frazzle Kalu . B3 . Fremont Tribune . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Nine Titans Plan to Pay Homage to Their Heritage With International Flag Displays on Helmets. www.tennesseetitans.com.
  4. News: May 1, 2018 . Going undrafted doesn't spoil NFL dreams of former Husker Joshua Kalu . Omaha World Journal .
  5. Web site: Joshua Kalu College Stats . November 19, 2018 . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC.
  6. News: August 1, 2017 . Joshua Kalu may be 'best safety in the country' . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (available at Newslibrary.com)
  7. News: August 1, 2017 . Diaco has high praise for Kalu . The North Platte Telegraph .
  8. Web site: Wolf, Jason . April 28, 2018 . Titans signing more than 20 undrafted free agents . November 11, 2018 . Tennessean.com.
  9. Web site: RotoWire Staff . August 12, 2018 . Josh Kalu: Released by Titans . November 11, 2018 . CBSSports.com.
  10. Web site: Wyatt, Jim . August 20, 2018 . Titans add DB Joshua Kalu, Place DB Kalan Reed on Injured Reserve . November 11, 2018 . TitansOnline.com.
  11. Web site: Wyatt, Jim . September 1, 2018 . Roster Moves: Titans Trim Roster From 90 to 53 Players . November 11, 2018 . TitansOnline.com.
  12. Web site: Bacharach, Erik . September 2, 2018 . Titans add 10 players to practice squad, including Robert Spillane, Dalyn Dawkins . November 11, 2018 . Tennessean.com.
  13. Web site: Wyatt, Jim . December 1, 2018 . Titans Promote DB Joshua Kalu, Waive DB Kenneth Durden . TitansOnline.com . December 1, 2018 . December 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070717/https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-promote-db-joshua-kalu-waive-db-kenneth-durden . dead .
  14. Web site: Wyatt, Jim . September 2, 2019 . Titans Claim Former Colts DB Chris Milton Off Waivers . September 2, 2019 . TitansOnline.com.
  15. News: Wyatt, Jim . October 30, 2019 . Wednesday's Quick Hits: Two-Step Tajae Sharpe, DB Joshua Kalu Practices, and the Titans Injury Report . TitansOnline.com . October 31, 2019.
  16. Web site: Wyatt, Jim . November 2, 2019 . Titans Add Kicker Ryan Succop, DB Joshua Kalu to 53-Man Roster for Sunday's game vs. Panthers . November 2, 2019 . TitansOnline.com . November 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102183105/https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-add-kicker-ryan-succop-db-joshua-kalu-to-53-man-roster-for-sunday-s-game- . dead .
  17. Web site: Wyatt, Jim . November 10, 2019 . Joshua Kalu Saves Day With Blocked Field Goal Form has Titans . November 11, 2019 . TitansOnline.com.
  18. Web site: 2021-03-31 . Giants sign three more free agents, including 2 Titans DBs . 2021-03-31 . AP NEWS.
  19. Web site: Valentine . Ed . 2021-08-15 . Giants injury news: T.J. Brunson, Joshua Kalu suffer major injuries . 2021-08-16 . Big Blue View . en.
  20. Web site: Wyatt . Jim . 2022-07-23 . Roster Moves: Titans Bring Back DB Joshua Kalu While Placing Three Players on the PUP List . 2022-07-24 . TennesseeTitans.com . en.
  21. Web site: Must-See Play: Josh Kalu's INT. September 28, 2023. si.com. en.
  22. Web site: Commanders sign S Joshua Kalu, P Colby Wadman. Commanders.com. August 8, 2023. August 8, 2023. Zach. Selby.
  23. Web site: Commanders place Braeden Daniels on IR, release 12 players. Commanders.com. August 28, 2023. August 28, 2023. Zach. Selby.
  24. Web site: Miami Dolphins Sign Eight to Practice Squad. MiamiDolphins.com. August 31, 2023.
  25. Web site: Commanders place Darrick Forrest, Jeremy Reaves on IR among multiple roster moves. Commanders.com. October 10, 2023. October 10, 2023. Zach. Selby.
  26. News: The Commanders make some roster moves to conclude the 2023 season. USA Today. January 9, 2024. Manning, Bryan.

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