Brian Branch: Everything you need to know

The Lions placed Branch (Achilles) on injured reserve Saturday. Branch underwent successful surgery Wednesday to address a torn Achilles suffered during the Week 14 win over Dallas. With a recovery timeline of eight to 12 months, he'll now shift his focus to recovering in time for the start of the 2026 regular season. Branch finishes the 2025 season with 75 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and nine passes defended over 12 games.

Branch (Achilles) has a recovery timetable of 8-12 months after undergoing a successful surgery to address the torn Achilles he suffered Dec. 4 against the Cowboys, coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday, Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network reports. Branch has a high likelihood of missing at least some of the 2026 season due to this injury. Daniel Thomas will likely assume the starting strong safety role for the remainder of the 2025 season in Branch's absence.

Branch tore his Achilles in Thursday's Week 14 win over the Cowboys, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Reports surfaced earlier Friday that there were fears Branch's injury was to his Achilles, and testing has now confirmed that diagnosis. Return to game action from an Achilles tear typically takes an NFL player at least nine months, and often longer, so Branch will be out for the remainder of this season and could be sidelined into the beginning of the 2026 campaign as well. This is a brutal blow to Detroit's secondary, though it could be softened a bit if Kerby Joseph, who has missed the team's past seven games due to a knee injury, is able to return in Week 15. Thomas Harper (concussion) figures to continue to start with Branch now sidelined (if the former is able to clear concussion protocol), and Daniel Thomas could pick up a significant amount of work as well, especially if Joseph remains out.