Lions’ Brian Branch practice return could be secret sauce to fixing putrid defense

October 8, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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The Detroit Lions came into this season with high expectations after missing the playoffs in 2025. Dan Campbell and company were projected to have an elite offense once again, and the hope in Detroit was that the defense would stay healthy and improve under Kelvin Sheppard in his second year.

The offense has held up its end of the bargain so far through four weeks, even if it has been up and down at times. The defense, however, has been arguably the worst in the NFL.

A lot of the blame for the Lions’ struggles on defense have to fall on the secondary, which is currently missing both of its star safeties in Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Branch is still working his way back from a torn Achilles, while Joseph is dealing with a knee injury that has lingered for over a year now.

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On Wednesday, Branch returned to practice as the Lions opened his 21-day practice window. While he won’t play in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, he was listed as a limited participant in practice and should be back within the next few weeks.

After Wednesday’s practice, Branch talked about his journey back to the field and his hunger to get back out there, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN.

“I’m starving,” Branch said. “Since I got injured, I’ve just been day-by day, just been working, grinding.”

Branch has been one of the best safeties in the NFL since joining the league. He is the kind of versatile chess piece that instantly can make a defense better, and the Lions will be thrilled to have him back whenever he is able to get back on the field.

Branch has 258 total tackles during his three seasons in the NFL to go with 20 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and three forced fumbles.

The Lions will have to survive against the Cardinals on Sunday without Branch before going on their bye week in Week 6. Branch will then look to make his return in Week 7 at home against the Green Bay Packers.

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