After watching Brian Branch practice just one time following his 10 month rehab from an Achilles tear, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard couldn’t hold in his excitement.
“How many positions can he play and how fast?” Sheppard joked with the media on Thursday.
And while that was a joke, Sheppard insisted that Detroit’s Pro Bowl safety looked so locked in and ready on Wednesday that he believes Branch could play a game on Thursday, if cleared.
“If we were playing tonight, it would be
realistic,” Sheppard said. “Like, this dude—it’s like he hadn’t been out. I’m serious. It literally looks like he hasn’t been out. It’s unbelievable. So, it’s just a matter of I’m going to lean on (Director of Player Health) Brett Fisher, (Head Trainer) Mike Sundeen, and our medical staff here. They’ve always done a tremendous job, and whatever they tell me. If that’s 20 plays, if that’s 30, if it’s 50—I want it to be 60—but whatever they tell me, I’m going to lock that, and we’re going to roll.”
It would be pretty unorthodox for the Lions to put Branch into the starting lineup after just three practices, since he hasn’t been on the field since early December. And even Sheppard admitted they need to make sure they don’t put Branch in a tough position.
“We also gotta do right by that player,” Sheppard said. “So just make sure we pick and choose how much, how soon, where, what’s best for him right now, and just kinda take that approach to him.”
The Lions have taken a somewhat conservative approach with Branch throughout his rehab, ensuring that he was fully ready before they even put him back on the practice field. While Branch has been eager to get out there, he said Wednesday that he appreciates them keeping both his short and long-term health in mind. That said, he feels like only a few things stand between him and playing time on Sundays.
“Just catching my wind. That’s the only hurdle, I feel like,” Branch said. “Catching my wind and contact with each other. Just getting more contact with each other. Yeah, more one-on-ones.”
When Branch is back, he can have a significant impact on the Lions’ bottom-ranked defense. Not only will his presence help out a safety group that has struggled through four weeks, but Detroit believes his playmaking and discipline can have a trickle down effect.
“He’s an instinctive, aware player and he’s a violent player,” coach Dan Campbell said this week. “And so, he’s got a knack for the football and his production, even if it’s not what it was in the immediate as he grows back to that will have an impact, I believe. And then with that, then it helps the guys around him. It makes the guys next to him better because this guy will be where he’s supposed to be. He’ll be able to make some plays and alleviate a little stress and whether it’s the other safety, the corner, Jack (Campbell), some of those things.”
It still seems like a long shot that the Lions would opt to play Branch on Sunday against the Cardinals, but it’s clear that Sheppard wants him as soon as possible.
“I’m ready for him to go all 70-80 (snaps). However many we play. Saints game, that was 90? Let’s go 90, BB. As much of Brian Branch as I can get right now, I want it.”
