Detroit’s defense won’t be at full strength when training camp begins. Brian Branch is expected to miss the start of camp, and his absence could shape the Lions’ early season.
Veterans officially report to Detroit Lions training camp on July 28, but one key defender will not be on the practice field. Safety Brian Branch continues to recover from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 15 last season, an injury that ended his 2025 campaign and will delay the start of his 2026 season.
Before the injury, Branch was putting together another standout season and continued to establish himself as one of the NFL’s top safeties. He earned a 77.5 overall Pro Football Focus defensive grade, ranking 12th among 98 qualified safeties. His 74.0 coverage grade ranked 15th, while his 82.6 run-defense grade ranked ninth at the position.
Although Branch did not record an interception, quarterbacks rarely found success attacking him. He finished with six pass breakups, tied for the fourth-most among NFL safeties, while allowing 21 receptions in coverage. He also recorded 61 solo tackles and remained one of Detroit’s most reliable defenders against the run and in open space.
His absence was felt immediately after the injury.
Detroit lost three of its final four games following Branch’s season-ending injury, finishing 1-3 over that stretch and missing the playoffs for the first time in two seasons. While several injuries contributed to the late-season collapse, losing Branch removed one of the defense’s most versatile playmakers and emotional leaders.
Branch has progressed well in his rehabilitation, but he remains a strong candidate to begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Detroit has not officially announced whether it will place him on the reserve/PUP list, but doing so would require him to miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
That scenario could make sense for both Branch and the Lions.
Detroit opens the season with home games against the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets before traveling to face the Carolina Panthers. The biggest early challenge comes in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. If the Lions can navigate that opening stretch with a winning record, allowing Branch additional time to fully recover could pay off over the final 13 games of the season.
Through three NFL seasons, Branch has already built one of the league’s strongest résumés at safety. He has earned one Pro Bowl selection while totaling seven interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 38 passes defended, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 20 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits and 258 total tackles.
His versatility separates him from many players at the position. Branch is equally effective in coverage, against the run and as a pass rusher. In 2024, he earned a 91.0 PFF pass-rush grade, the second-best among safeties, while his 90.0 run-defense grade ranked first. He also posted a 77.6 overall grade, ranked 11th among safeties and led the position with 11 pass breakups across 916 defensive snaps.
Ironically, Branch’s highest overall PFF grade came during his rookie season. He finished with a 78.1 overall grade, including a 76.0 coverage grade and an 83.6 run-defense grade, immediately proving he could be a cornerstone of Detroit’s defense.
While the Lions would certainly welcome Branch back as soon as possible, patience may be the smarter approach. If Detroit chooses to hold him out through its early bye week, he could return fully healthy for the team’s divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Missing the first five games would likely hurt his statistical production, but a healthy Branch for the majority of the season gives Detroit its best chance to field one of the NFL’s top defenses and could position him for another Pro Bowl year.
