After watching Brian Branch practice Wednesday, Oct. 7, for the first time since he tore his Achilles tendon last December, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said it's realistic to think the Pro Bowl safety could make his season debut in this weekend's game against the Arizona Cardinals.
"From what I saw yesterday, I don’t know if y’all got to see any of it, if we were playing tonight it’d be realistic," Sheppard said Thursday in Allen Park. "Like this dude looked like he hadn’t been out. I’m serious. It literally looks like he hadn’t been out. It’s unbelievable."
Branch was a limited participant in practice Wednesday but remains on the physically unable to perform list awaiting clearance from Lions trainers to play in a game.
The Lions (2-2) have a bye week after Sunday's game against the Cardinals (1-3), then host division rivals the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings in back-to-back weeks.
They have 21 days to activate Branch to the 53-man roster or keep him on PUP for the season.
"I don’t even know the word [to describe how much he can help us]," Sheppard said. "How many positions can he play and how fast? I mean, he’s a dynamic player. That is an elite player in this league, which we all know, guys. I’m not telling you nothing you don’t know. That is an elite player in this league. But we also got to do right by the player so just make sure we pick and choose how much, how soon, where, what’s best for him right now and just kind of take that approach to it."
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday "it'll take a minute" for Branch to knock off the rust he acquired from sitting out the past 10 months, but that Branch still should have an immediate impact on a Lions defense that has given up the most yards and second most points in the league through four games.
Branch is one of the NFL's best safeties when healthy. He made the Pro Bowl in his last full season in 2024 and has seven interceptions and three forced fumbles in his three-year career.
Sheppard said he'll lean on guidance from the Lions' training staff to determine Branch's role for Sunday, if he's cleared to play.
"I’m ready for him to go all 70 [plays], 80, however many we play," Sheppard said. "The Saints game that was 90? Let’s go 90, BB. Like as much of Brian Branch as I can get right now I want."
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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: Brian Branch looks 'unbelievable.' Could he play in Lions vs Cardinals?
