Due to a new NFL rule, the Detroit Lions could return both Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch to practice this week, despite the fact that both players will remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list through Week 4. However, coach Dan Campbell noted on Monday morning that both players will remain sidelined for the time being.
“I don’t see it for either one,” Campbell said.
Branch is out while recovering from a torn Achilles late last season, and he is not eligible to play until the Lions’ Week 5 game
against the Arizona Cardinals. Kerby Joseph is eligible for the exact same timeline as Branch, but Campbell noted that he’s not quite ready to return to practice while he continues to navigate a knee injury that last lingered for over a full year now. Campbell wouldn’t give a timeline for either’s return, but it certainly sounds like Branch is closer to coming back.
“It’s tough to say. It really is,” Campbell said. “I think Branch has a chance to be back sooner than Kerby, but it won’t be this week.”
Joseph’s injury has been more enigmatic than Branch’s, as the Lions have been saying they need to build enough strength around his knee in order to be able to test it and see whether his knee can withhold the punishment of an NFL season. Campbell was asked when they were going to feel comfortable enough to try that, and he gave a little more context on his situation—seemingly referring to Joseph’s time outside of the facility during training camp.
“Nothing I’m gonna say is going to make anybody feel better about anything. I just know we were strengthening the knee, and it wasn’t a setback, but there was a little time there where we weren’t able to do everything that we needed to do and so now we’re back at it,” Campbell said. “Until we can get the knee to a certain point where it feels strong, as strong as we can possibly get it, and he feels comfortable, we’re not going to put him out there.”
Detroit is in need of all the safety help they can get right now. Starter Avonte Maddox suffered a foot injury on Thursday and is out for the season. The Lions are reportedly working out a stable of defensive backs to help them in the interim.
