Lions Activate Brian Branch, Cade Mays for Sunday vs. Packers
Detroit's Pro Bowl safety returns nearly 11 months after tearing his Achilles, and center Cade Mays is back from a broken wrist
Brian Branch is back. The Lions activated their Pro Bowl safety from the reserve/PUP list Saturday, and he's set to make his season debut Sunday against the Packers, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler first reported.
Lions plan to activate safety Brian Branch, who returns nearly 11 months from his Achilles tear. He’s set to make his season debut Sunday vs Packers.View on X →
Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN): Lions plan to activate safety Brian Branch, who returns nearly 11 months from his Achilles tear. He’s set to make his season debut Sunday vs Packers.
Branch hasn't played since tearing his Achilles on Dec. 4, so this is a return nearly 11 months in the making. Detroit also activated center Cade Mays from injured reserve. Mays broke his wrist in training camp, both players practiced this week and are set to play.
The Lions opened practice windows for both earlier this month. Getting Branch back gives Detroit's secondary one of its best playmakers, and Mays adds a starting-caliber interior lineman.
The timing matters. Green Bay is also getting a key player back, with Josh Jacobs activated to start at running back, and Jordan Love and Christian Watson both cleared the injury report this week.
What to watch: how big a snap count Branch gets in his first game back, and whether Mays steps straight into the starting lineup at center.