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The Detroit Lions received one of their most encouraging injury updates of the offseason Wednesday, and it came from a player many expected to miss the beginning of the regular season.
Head coach Dan Campbell revealed that safety Brian Branch has suffered no setbacks while recovering from the torn Achilles he sustained in December. Campbell even opened the door for Branch to return to practice before training camp ends.
“Branch is doing well. I’m sure late training camp, maybe early September, he could start practicing. We’ll see,” Campbell said. “But he’s doing well.”
That timeline is far more optimistic than many expected when the Lions placed Branch on the physically unable to perform list.
Branch can be activated from the active/PUP list at any point during training camp.
The important deadline comes when Detroit trims its roster to 53 players. If Branch remains on PUP at that point and is transferred to reserve/PUP, he would be required to miss at least the first four regular-season games.
Campbell’s update raises the possibility that Detroit could activate Branch before final cuts. That would allow him to avoid the mandatory four-game absence and potentially become available early in the season, depending on how quickly he regains football conditioning.
A return to practice in late August or early September would not guarantee that Branch is immediately ready for a full defensive workload.
Detroit would still need to evaluate his movement, confidence and response between practices. After a long rehabilitation, the Lions are not going to rush one of their most important defenders simply to meet an artificial deadline.
The encouraging part is that Branch remains on schedule with no reported setback.
When healthy, Branch gives Detroit a versatile defensive weapon capable of playing safety, nickel cornerback and near the line of scrimmage. He recorded 75 tackles, five tackles for loss, nine passes defended and one interception in 12 games last season before suffering the Achilles injury.
Brian Branch was widely viewed as a candidate to miss the opening month of the season.
Dan Campbell’s latest update changes that outlook.
Branch still has several important steps ahead, and Detroit will manage his return carefully. The possibility of seeing him practice before camp ends gives the Lions a legitimate chance to avoid placing him on reserve/PUP.
For a secondary already facing health questions, that qualifies as terrific news.
Continue reading...
Head coach Dan Campbell revealed that safety Brian Branch has suffered no setbacks while recovering from the torn Achilles he sustained in December. Campbell even opened the door for Branch to return to practice before training camp ends.
“Branch is doing well. I’m sure late training camp, maybe early September, he could start practicing. We’ll see,” Campbell said. “But he’s doing well.”
That timeline is far more optimistic than many expected when the Lions placed Branch on the physically unable to perform list.
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Brian Branch Could Avoid Reserve/PUP
Branch can be activated from the active/PUP list at any point during training camp.
The important deadline comes when Detroit trims its roster to 53 players. If Branch remains on PUP at that point and is transferred to reserve/PUP, he would be required to miss at least the first four regular-season games.
Campbell’s update raises the possibility that Detroit could activate Branch before final cuts. That would allow him to avoid the mandatory four-game absence and potentially become available early in the season, depending on how quickly he regains football conditioning.
Lions Still Have Time to Be Patient
A return to practice in late August or early September would not guarantee that Branch is immediately ready for a full defensive workload.
Detroit would still need to evaluate his movement, confidence and response between practices. After a long rehabilitation, the Lions are not going to rush one of their most important defenders simply to meet an artificial deadline.
The encouraging part is that Branch remains on schedule with no reported setback.
When healthy, Branch gives Detroit a versatile defensive weapon capable of playing safety, nickel cornerback and near the line of scrimmage. He recorded 75 tackles, five tackles for loss, nine passes defended and one interception in 12 games last season before suffering the Achilles injury.
Bottom Line
Brian Branch was widely viewed as a candidate to miss the opening month of the season.
Dan Campbell’s latest update changes that outlook.
Branch still has several important steps ahead, and Detroit will manage his return carefully. The possibility of seeing him practice before camp ends gives the Lions a legitimate chance to avoid placing him on reserve/PUP.
For a secondary already facing health questions, that qualifies as terrific news.
Continue reading...
