Brian Branch and Cade Mays might have been back at practice, but Lions fans expecting them on the field this week against the Arizona Cardinals are gonna be waiting a little longer. Head coach Dan Campbell just dropped the word: both guys are unlikely to play, pushing their return further down the calendar.
Branch’s Road Back Isn’t Over Yet
Safety Brian Branch has been on a long, tough road. He hit the practice field again on Wednesday, marking his first full action after a grueling 10-month recovery from his Achilles injury. You gotta believe defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard sees him ready to roll, saying Branch “looked good for two days.” But Campbell’s pumping the brakes big time. He called playing this week a “tall order,” stressing the need to be smart with their key defensive piece. The secondary’s been beaten up, so yeah, they could use him, but risking a setback isn’t the move. Campbell made it clear: Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers is the much more likely target for Branch’s comeback. He loves “where he’s at right now” but the cautious approach is the only one that makes sense long-term.
Mays And The O-Line Shuffle
It’s pretty much the same story for center Cade Mays. He also jumped back into practice on Wednesday, a welcome sight after missing a couple months. Mays fractured his wrist way back in training camp, forcing backup Juice Scruggs to take over at the pivot for the first four weeks of the season. Getting Mays back is huge for that offensive line, but just like Branch, Campbell is playing it cool. The good news is, both Branch and Mays won’t be taking it easy during next week’s bye. Campbell expects them to stay at the facility, getting conditioning work and as much football stuff in with the training staff as possible, even though their teammates will be off.
So, the plan is crystal clear: “Let’s get them going Green Bay week. Let’s get them going, and then we’ll assess. Hopefully by midweek, we’ll have a pretty good idea,” Campbell said. Lions fans are going to need to hold their breath through the Arizona game, knowing that help is on the horizon. The Cardinals are up next, and the team will need to manage without these key guys, but the light at the end of the tunnel, especially with the Packers game, is shining bright.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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