Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch is apparently very close to returning to practice. After suffering a torn Achilles in early December last year, the All-Pro safety could show up in practice at any time.
“He’s close. Yep, he’s close,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Friday morning. “He’s ready to go. [I’m] tired of listening to him. So, I mean that in a good way. Man, he’s put in a ton of work, and he looks really good. He’s close.”
Branch is eligible to return to practice at any time thanks to a new
rule regarding the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Branch is not eligible to play until after this weekend’s game against the Carolina Panthers, but he could theoretically return to action next week against the Arizona Cardinals. Detroit does have a Week 6 bye, so perhaps the team’s Week 7 game against the Green Bay Packers is a more realistic target date.
Once the Lions opt to return Branch to practice, they have a 21-day window to put him back on the 53-man roster, activating him from the PUP list.
In the meantime, the Lions have been making due at the safety position. With Kerby Joseph also still on PUP and Avonte Maddox out for the year with a foot injury, Detroit has relied upon veteran Chuck Clark and fourth-year defensive back Christian Izien.
In three season with Detroit, Branch has 258 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 38 passes defended, seven interceptions, and three forced fumbles.
