The Detroit Lions won't have Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch on a strict snap count in his return from a torn Achilles this week.
"We haven’t given like a rep count or anything like that," Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said Thursday, Oct. 22, in Allen Park. "It’s going to be more of a feel thing as the game goes and we’ll pick and choose what’s right and what’s not."
Branch is scheduled to come off the physically unable to perform list this weekend before the Lions' NFC North showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
He has not played since tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg in win over the Dallas Cowboys last Dec. 4.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said this week it would "be asking a lot" for Branch to play a full complement of snaps
in his first game in nearly 11 months. But whatever the role, Sheppard said he expects Branch to have a significant impact on the Lions defense.
The Lions (3-2) rank last in the NFL in pass defense (297.4 ypg) and 30th in points allowed (29.8 ppg), and the Packers have the league's most explosive passing offense with eight plays of 40-plus yards.
"Whenever you can gain a player like BB and his caliber back, it’s outstanding," Sheppard said. "I’m not big on giving you projections and, 'Oh, he’s going to do this, he’s going to do that.' It’s just beautiful to have BB back. There’s multiple things obviously that player can do to help us and we’ll find the spots that we feel is right and he feels right for him as we progress here."
Josh Jacobs return
As excited as the Lions are to get Branch back in the lineup, Sheppard said the Packers are "probably over there just like we are" about Josh Jacobs.
Jacobs is expected to return to Green Bay's lineup Sunday, Oct. 25, after spending the first six games on the commissioner's exempt list. He has 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns the past two seasons, and should give an immediate boost to a Packers offense that's last in the NFL in rushing (59.8 ypg).
"Everybody’s just looking at the run game, it’s going to open up everything, it’s going to boost everything," Sheppard said. "So it’s just a matter for them just like us, how much will he do? But we’re prepared to play the player. We’ve played him previous, not only Green Bay, when he was in Vegas. Have the utmost respect for that player, Josh Jacobs. I think he’s one of the top-end guys int his league and like I said, I believe we’ll be prepared for the challenge."
Jacobs had games of 83 and 66 yards rushing in wins over the Lions last season and has averaged 81.8 yards rushing in six games against the Lions in his career.
DeAndre Carter to handle returns
Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp was part of the coaching staff that gave new Lions return man DeAndre Carter his break with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.
Carter spent three seasons bouncing around the league, appearing on the roster of four teams before the Eagles brought him in to replace an injured Darren Sproles.
"We were playing against Tennessee and he did what he does," Fipp said. "He catches the ball, he competes, he gets downhill, he's quick. Very competitive. I mean, his story is the ultimate story of just overcoming all the obstacles, and he plays the game that way. He loves playing football."
Fipp said Carter, who's averaged 9.7 yards a punt return and 23.6 yards a kick return for his career, will take Tom Kennedy's spot as the Lions' primary kick and punt returner.
The Lions officially signed Carter to the practice squad this week. Kennedy is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
"I've always respected his game," Fipp said. "I actually didn't even bring him up. Our pro personnel guys had him on the list of a couple guys that we looked at and worked out. So anyway, I know a lot about him and I think he’ll do a great job for us."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions expect Brian Branch to have big role in return vs Packers
