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Joshua Kalu
refer to caption
Kalu with the Washington Commanders in 2023
Personal information
Born: (1995-08-28) August 28, 1995 (age 29)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Alief Taylor (Houston)
College:Nebraska (2014–2017)
Position:Safety
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:68
Forced fumbles:2
Pass deflections:6
Interceptions:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

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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

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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,[4] missing only three games as a senior due to injury.[5] He compiled seven interceptions and 215 tackles.[4] 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

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Year G Solo Ast Tot Sacks Int PD FF FR
2014 12 20 7 27 1 1 3 1 2
2015 13 51 24 75 1 3 7 0 0
2016 13 48 18 66 1 1 11 0 0
2017 9 34 13 47 0 2 6 0 1

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 1⁄4 in
(1.84 m) 		203 lb
(92 kg) 		32 3⁄4 in
(0.83 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.58 s 1.60 s 2.64 s 4.25 s 6.74 s 41.5 in
(1.05 m)		 11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)		 17 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[8][9]
Kalu as a rookie with the Titans, 2018

Tennessee Titans

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On May 11, 2018, the Tennessee Titans signed Kalu as an undrafted free agent.[10] On August 12, 2018, Kalu was released by the Titans, but was re-signed eight days later.[11][12] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[13][14] He was promoted to the active roster on December 1, 2018.[15] Kalu mainly played on special teams and finished the season with 4 tackles.

Kalu prior to blocking a field goal in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs

On September 2, 2019, Kalu was placed on injured reserve.[16] He was designated for return from injured reserve on October 30, 2019, and began practicing with the team again.[17] He was added to the 53-man roster on November 2, 2019.[18] 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.[19] 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

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On March 30, 2021, Kalu signed a contract with the New York Giants.[20] In his first preseason game with the Giants, Kalu suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.[21]

Tennessee Titans (second stint)

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On July 23, 2022, Kalu signed with the Titans.[22] 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.[23]

Washington Commanders

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On August 8, 2023, Kalu signed with the Washington Commanders.[24] On August 28, he was released as part of final roster cuts before the start of 2023 season.[25]

Miami Dolphins

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On August 30, 2023, Kalu signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad.[26] He was released on September 19.

Washington Commanders (second stint)

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On October 10, 2023, the Commanders signed Kalu to their practice squad.[27] He became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired after the season.[28]

NFL career statistics

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Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2018 TEN 5 0 4 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2019 TEN 8 0 6 6 0 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2020 TEN 15 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

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2019 TEN 3 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1
Career 3 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1

References

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  1. ^ "Kalu benefiting from 'different level of focus'". Lincoln Journal Star. August 11, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "NU changes failed to frazzle Kalu". Fremont Tribune. January 30, 2018. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Nine Titans Plan to Pay Homage to Their Heritage With International Flag Displays on Helmets". www.tennesseetitans.com.
  4. ^ a b "Joshua Kalu College Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "Going undrafted doesn't spoil NFL dreams of former Husker Joshua Kalu". Omaha World Journal. May 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Joshua Kalu may be 'best safety in the country'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 1, 2017.(available at Newslibrary.com)
  7. ^ "Diaco has high praise for Kalu". The North Platte Telegraph. August 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "Joshua Kalu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  9. ^ "2018 Draft Scout Joshua Kalu, Nebraska NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Wolf, Jason (April 28, 2018). "Titans signing more than 20 undrafted free agents". Tennessean.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  11. ^ RotoWire Staff (August 12, 2018). "Josh Kalu: Released by Titans". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  12. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 20, 2018). "Titans add DB Joshua Kalu, Place DB Kalan Reed on Injured Reserve". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  13. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 1, 2018). "Roster Moves: Titans Trim Roster From 90 to 53 Players". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  14. ^ Bacharach, Erik (September 2, 2018). "Titans add 10 players to practice squad, including Robert Spillane, Dalyn Dawkins". Tennessean.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  15. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 1, 2018). "Titans Promote DB Joshua Kalu, Waive DB Kenneth Durden". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  16. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 2, 2019). "Titans Claim Former Colts DB Chris Milton Off Waivers". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  17. ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 30, 2019). "Wednesday's Quick Hits: Two-Step Tajae Sharpe, DB Joshua Kalu Practices, and the Titans Injury Report". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  18. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 2, 2019). "Titans Add Kicker Ryan Succop, DB Joshua Kalu to 53-Man Roster for Sunday's game vs. Panthers". TitansOnline.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 10, 2019). "Joshua Kalu Saves Day With Blocked Field Goal Form has Titans". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  20. ^ "Giants sign three more free agents, including 2 Titans DBs". AP NEWS. March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  21. ^ Valentine, Ed (August 15, 2021). "Giants injury news: T.J. Brunson, Joshua Kalu suffer major injuries". Big Blue View. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Wyatt, Jim (July 23, 2022). "Roster Moves: Titans Bring Back DB Joshua Kalu While Placing Three Players on the PUP List". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  23. ^ "Must-See Play: Josh Kalu's INT". si.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Selby, Zach (August 8, 2023). "Commanders sign S Joshua Kalu, P Colby Wadman". Commanders.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Selby, Zach (August 28, 2023). "Commanders place Braeden Daniels on IR, release 12 players". Commanders.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  26. ^ "Miami Dolphins Sign Eight to Practice Squad". MiamiDolphins.com. August 31, 2023.
  27. ^ Selby, Zach (October 10, 2023). "Commanders place Darrick Forrest, Jeremy Reaves on IR among multiple roster moves". Commanders.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  28. ^ Manning, Bryan (January 9, 2024). "The Commanders make some roster moves to conclude the 2023 season". USA Today.
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