The Detroit Lions just dropped a bomb during their roster cutdowns, placing both starting safeties, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. This isn’t just a minor setback, folks. It means both these guys are flat-out ineligible for Detroit’s first four games of the season, and it doesn’t even count them against the 53-man roster.
The Hit List: What Joseph and Branch Are Facing
Let’s talk about what’s going on with these two. Kerby Joseph is still battling a knee injury from last year, one that cost him the final 11 games of that season. He’s been trying to manage it, even doing some intense workouts at training camp, but he’s also been away from the facility for the past couple of weeks due to a “personal issue.” That’s a lot to deal with.
Then there’s Brian Branch, who’s recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered in the first week of December last year. Coach Dan Campbell had been optimistic, even saying it was possible Branch could return to practice as soon as late August. Looks like he didn’t quite hit that mark, but Campbell still sounds upbeat. “Both of those guys are doing well right now,” he said just Thursday. The good news is a new NFL rule lets players start practicing just two weeks into their PUP stint, which could give them a ramp-up for a Week 5 return.
Who Steps Up? And Why It’s Getting Dicey
So, with Joseph and Branch sidelined, who’s stepping into the starting roles for those crucial first four games? The Lions will likely lean on veterans Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox. And for backups? Thomas Harper and Christian Izien are set to fill in. Here’s where it gets hairy, though: Maddox, Harper, and Izien are *all* currently dealing with injuries themselves, and their timelines are unknown. Talk about a precarious situation!
This means Detroit might be scrambling to add more help at safety before Week 1 kicks off in a couple of weeks. It’s a rough spot to be in, losing two key starters right out of the gate, especially when the depth behind them is also banged up.
The Lions are set to miss games against the Saints, at the Bills, against the Jets, and at the Panthers. It’s a tough stretch without their top guys. While they could theoretically be ready for Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit also has a Week 6 bye, so it’s possible they hold both players out until Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers. Either way, the early part of the season just got a whole lot more challenging for Detroit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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