As the Detroit Lions (1-1) gear up for a Week 3 date against the New York Jets (1-1), Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked if Brian Branch or Kerby Joseph would make their returns to practice this week.
"Yeah, I don't see it for either one," Campbell said when asked if Branch or Joseph would make their return to practice this week.
Branch, a second-rounder out of Alabamain 2023, was a Pro Bowler in 2024 when he had 16 passes defended and four interceptions. Joseph, a 2022 first-round pick out of Illinois, was a first-team All-Pro in 2024 as the led the NFL in interceptions with nine picks.
Campbell is still unsure of a potential return-to-practice timeline for either of his starting safeties, but he did indicate that Branch will likely return before
Joseph.
"It's tough to say. It really is. I mean, I think Branch has a chance to be back sooner than Kerby, but it won't be this week," Campbell said.
Branch suffered a torn Achilles last December against the Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile, Joseph is dealing with a degenerative condition in his knee that has sidelined him since Oct. 12 of last season.
Campbell was asked on Monday what more Joseph can truly gain from rest and rehab and at what point the organization would feel comfortable starting him and seeing how his knee responds.
"It's a good question and nothing I’m going to 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 we needed to do. And so now we're back at it. Until we can get the knee to a certain point to 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. Until he's ready," Campbell said.
Branch and Joseph were placed on the physically unable to perform list to begin the 2026 season, ensuring that they would miss at least the season's first four games.
An NFL rule change opened the possibility for Branch and Joseph to return to practice after the season's second regular-season game. Under the new bylaw, the Lions and all other NFL teams have the option of opening a 21-day practice window for players that begin the season on injured reserve after their second regular-season game.
Previously, teams could not open this 21-day practice window until after the fourth regular-season game.
The ability for players to return to practice two weeks sooner creates an earlier ramp-up period for players as they sit out the required four games.
The 21-day practice window is used for all players coming off injured reserve. Players can practice for 21 days without being activated off the reserve list. If the player is not activated at some point before the end of that 21-day window, they must remain on the reserve list for the rest of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions injury update: Branch, Joseph won't make practice returns this week
