The Detroit Lions dealt with injuries to safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch last season, and it had a big impact on the roster. Branch tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, and since it happened so late in the season, it will impact his availability for the 2026 season.
The Lions didn't want to go into the season scrambling, so they made sure to add multiple players to the safety room. They signed Chuck Clark, Christian Izien, and most recently Avonte Maddox, who has cornerback and safety versatility. Detroit still has Thomas Harper, Dan Jackson, and Loren Strickland in the room.
The Lions aren't going to rush Branch back into action, and these moves show that. Detroit is making it a priority to be prepared, but at the same time, this darkens Branch's future with the team.
Brian Branch’s Future with Lions May Have Taken a Hit
Branch is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he's eligible for an extension. Yet the odds are low that he gets that contract, especially after coming off a major injury. Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell are also eligible for an extension and will likely be the priority for Detroit instead of Branch.
If Branch hadn't suffered that injury, he could have been on his way to a new deal that kept him in Detroit for the long haul. Through three seasons, the former Alabama standout has been a highly productive piece for this defense. In 43 games (37 starts), Branch had 258 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, 38 pass deflections, seven interceptions, and 4.5 sacks.
Additionally, he's graded out as one of the best players at the position on Pro Football Focus since 2023:
Season | Overall Grade | Coverage Grade | Run Defense Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
2023 | 78.1 (16th among 128 graded safeties) | 76.0 (22nd among 128 graded safeties) | 83.6 (8th among 128 graded safeties) |
2024 | 77.6 (11th among 97 graded safeties) | 70.0 (24th among 97 graded safeties) | 90.0 (1st among 97 graded safeties) |
2025 | 77.5 (12th among 98 graded safeties) | 74.0 (15th among 98 graded safeties) | 82.6 (10th among 98 graded safeties) |
Not only is he impactful, but he's a chess piece for that defense. Branch can play at free safety, slot cornerback, and in the box. That sort of versatility is underrated, but the Lions want to see how he comes back on the other side after such a big injury.
While Branch is certainly better than the other safeties in the room when healthy, the Lions won't feel in a rush to force Branch back into action. Instead, they'll lean on the veterans like Clark and Maddox, who were signed. Clark has over 5,000 defensive snaps in his playing career. Maddox filled in nicely for the Lions last season, logging 248 snaps at free safety.
On PFF, he had a 79.1 overall grade (10th among 98 graded safeties), 75.0 coverage grade (12th among 98 graded safeties), and a 75.7 run defense grade (26th among 98 graded safeties).
The Lions are ready for whatever comes their way in 2026, but it's obvious that Branch will begin the year on the sideline. With no timetable set and him going into a contract year, his future in the Motor City took a hit this offseason. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2027, and as of now, there's no guarantee that he'll be around beyond this season.