Lions Hopeful Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Isiah Pacheco Will Return From Injuries to Play This Year
Both safeties will miss at least the first four games after the Lions placed them on the physically unable to perform list, officials said.
- On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Detroit Lions placed safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on the physically unable to perform list, forcing both to miss at least the first four games of the 2026 regular season as part of their 53-man roster cuts.
- Branch tore his Achilles tendon Dec. 4 in a Thursday Night Football win at Ford Field over the Dallas Cowboys, while Joseph remains sidelined by a lingering knee injury suffered last year that cost him the final 11 games of last season; neither has practiced this summer.
- Elite credentials underscore the loss: Joseph leads the NFL with 20 interceptions over four seasons and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2024, while Branch was a Pro Bowl selection in 2024 with seven career interceptions and 4½ sacks.
- Lions coach Dan Campbell said last week that 'both of those guys are doing well right now,' yet the team ultimately sidelined both players, leaving veterans Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox to start throughout training camp.
- GM Brad Holmes indicated after the 2026 NFL Draft that both safeties are 'trending in the right direction,' while Joseph said in early August he was 'super optimistic' about returning early in the season, positioning both for potential returns after Week 4.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Associated Press News
Lions hopeful Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Isiah Pacheco will return from injuries to play this year
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes says he's hopeful safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch along with running back Isiah Pacheco will be healthy enough to play this season.
Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph begin season on PUP; here’s what that means
Detroit Lions safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are beginning the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning the earliest either player can return is Detroit’s Week 5 contest at the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 11.
The Detroit News
Detroit Free PressKerby Joseph, Brian Branch on PUP with injuries, will miss Lions games
Detroit Lions roster news today sees them keep safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on PUP, meaning they must miss games to start 2026 season.
Lions Cut 34 Players To Trim Down Roster To 53, Starting Both Kerby Joseph & Brian Branch On PUP List
The Detroit Lions announced their initial 53-man roster which included 34 cuts. The full list includes: DL Myles Adams LB Joe Bachie TE Tyler Conklin WR Greg Dortch WR Tom Kennedy LB Amen Ogbongbemiga LB Troy Reeder DL Ben Stille RB Trayveon Williams QB Luke Altmyer WR Tarik Black CB Ekow Boye-Doe DB Aamaris Brown OL Devin Cochran CB Bump Cooper Jr. WR Malik Cunningham TE Thomas Gordon OL Gus Hartwig TE Zach Horton LB Erick Hunter S Dan Jackson …
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