Joshua Kalu

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Joshua Kalu
refer to caption
Kalu with the Tennessee Titans in 2019
New York Giants
Position:Strong safety
Personal information
Born: (1995-08-28) August 28, 1995 (age 26)
Houston, Texas
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Alief Taylor (Houston)
College:Nebraska
Undrafted:2018
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Total tackles:26
Sacks:0.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:0
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Joshua Elekwachi Kalu (born August 28, 1995) is an American football strong safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played college football at Nebraska.

Early years[]

Born in 1995, Kalu was a native of Houston.[1] He attended Alief Taylor High School in Alief, Texas, where he played football at the safety position.[2]

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,[3] missing only three games as a senior due to injury.[4] He compiled seven interceptions and 215 tackles.[3] In 2017, Nebraska's coaching staff moved him from the cornerback to the safety position.[5][6] During his recruitment and playing career with Nebraska, he had six separate position coaches due to repeated staff turnover.[2]

Professional career[]

Kalu in the 2018 preseason
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 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 41.5 in
(1.05 m)		 11 ft 2 in
(3.40 m)		 17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7]

Tennessee Titans[]

2018 season[]

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.

2019 season[]

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.[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.

2020 season[]

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]

NFL career statistics[]

Regular season[]

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[]

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[]

  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. ^ a b "Joshua Kalu College Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Going undrafted doesn't spoil NFL dreams of former Husker Joshua Kalu". Omaha World Journal. May 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "Joshua Kalu may be 'best safety in the country'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 1, 2017.(available at Newslibrary.com)
  6. ^ "Diaco has high praise for Kalu". The North Platte Telegraph. August 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Joshua Kalu Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Wolf, Jason (April 28, 2018). "Titans signing more than 20 undrafted free agents". Tennessean.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  9. ^ RotoWire Staff (August 12, 2018). "Josh Kalu: Released by Titans". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Wyatt, Jim (August 20, 2018). "Titans add DB Joshua Kalu, Place DB Kalan Reed on Injured Reserve". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  11. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 1, 2018). "Roster Moves: Titans Trim Roster From 90 to 53 Players". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  12. ^ Bacharach, Erik (September 2, 2018). "Titans add 10 players to practice squad, including Robert Spillane, Dalyn Dawkins". Tennessean.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  13. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 1, 2018). "Titans Promote DB Joshua Kalu, Waive DB Kenneth Durden". TitansOnline.com.
  14. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 2, 2019). "Titans Claim Former Colts DB Chris Milton Off Waivers". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  17. ^ Wyatt, Jim (November 10, 2019). "Joshua Kalu Saves Day With Blocked Field Goal Form has Titans". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Giants sign three more free agents, including 2 Titans DBs". AP NEWS. March 31, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  19. ^ Valentine, Ed (August 15, 2021). "Giants injury news: T.J. Brunson, Joshua Kalu suffer major injuries". Big Blue View. Retrieved August 16, 2021.

External links[]

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