Lions push Brian Branch return to December amid
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- Dan Campbell widened Brian Branch's return window to December, calling anything before that "a bonus," and acknowledged a slim chance the safety lands on the PUP list to open the 2026 season.
- Branch tore his Achilles in the fourth quarter of the Lions' 44-30 Thursday Night Football win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 and was carted off the field while breaking up a pass in the end zone.
- Branch underwent surgery in December 2025, and Campbell had initially projected an 8-to-12-month recovery timeline, with no setbacks reported since.
- The 24-year-old one-time Pro Bowler started all 12 games in 2025, logging 75 tackles, nine passes defended, and five quarterback hits as one of Detroit's top defenders.
- Branch is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 and is eligible for a contract extension, and Campbell said the organization wants certainty the injury is "truly healed" before investing further.
Why it matters: Branch is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is extension-eligible, so the Lions have direct financial motivation to confirm the Achilles is fully healed before committing long-term money — Campbell's widened December window and openness to a PUP stint signal Detroit is protecting both the player and a potential major deal.
