As expected, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on Monday that he and Detroit (3-2) plan on playing both safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays this week against the Green Bay Packers (4-2).
"Barring anything negatively happening between now and the game, we plan on playing both of those guys," Campbell said of Branch and Mays on Monday.
Campbell was unsure how many snaps either would get.
"Yeah, I think that’d be asking a lot to say he’s going to play 70 plays. We do feel like he can handle quite a bit here. We’re going to push him in practice here early. That’s one of the reasons why we’re practicing tomorrow and not Wednesday, so we can push some of these guys a little bit knowing they’re going into a day off. I think that’ll help a little bit,
and then we’ll have a really good idea by the time we hit the game. I mean, we already kind of have a range of what we’re looking at for him and for Cade a little bit," Campbell said of Branch.
Juice Scruggs has played well in Mays' place, registering the third-highest overall grade among centers and the best run blocking grade among centers with more than 26 run blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Scruggs' strong play and the uniqueness of the center position has Campbell and the Lions still undecided on Mays' workload this coming Sunday.
"We’re still back and forth on what do we do with him. Do we work he and Juice (Scruggs) in and out? The center position, it’s a little different than a guard. That’s somebody that’s constantly touching the football," Campbell said of Mays.
Branch and Mays opened their 21-day practice windows on Oct. 7 before the Lions' Week 5 date at the Arizona Cardinals. Branch is working his way back from an Achilles tear that he suffered in December of last year against the Dallas Cowboys. Mays suffered a broken right wrist in training camp.
A 6-foot-6, 325-pound center, Mays was the Lions' big free agent acquisition this offseason. Detroit signed Mays to a three-year $25 million contract.
Branch was a Pro Bowler in 2024 when he totaled 109 tackles and four interceptions. In his NFL career, Branch has tallied 258 tackles, 38 passes defended, 20 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, seven interceptions, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions planning on playing Brian Branch, Cade Mays vs. Packers
