As expected, the Detroit Lions have placed Brian Branch on injured reserve after the safety suffered a torn Achilles in last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
For now, it appears fellow safety Kerby Joseph has avoided IR. However, on Friday, Lions coach Dan Campbell said it was a possibility that Joseph could eventually land on IR after suffering a setback in practice this week, and he has already been ruled out of this Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Could be (a possibility),” Campbell said. “We’re at the back-end of the season now, so anything—even if it’s not technically long-term becomes long-term, because we don’t have many games left.”
Regardless, the Lions are going to be without both starting safeties this week, and with Thomas Harper already downgraded to out, Detroit will need some reinforcements. That leaves the Lions to likely rely upon Avonte Maddox as one of their starters, with the other spot a bit up in the air. Detroit recently claimed veteran safety Jalen Mills off waivers and signed Damontae Kazee to their practice squad. Kazee was not elevated from the practice squad this week, but fellow defensive back Erick Hallett was. So Detroit has Daniel Thomas, Mills, and Hallett to choose from to start opposite Maddox.
Campbell expressed confidence in their safety depth, despite not having Branch for the rest of the season and Joseph for at least this upcoming game.
“I’m really not (worried). I mean, I hate losing either one of those players; they’re great players, they’re great teammates. But as far as worried, I’m really not worried,” Campbell said. “I really do trust the guys that are going back there for us, I do, man. What you lose in a couple areas, you may gain in other areas, having some of these guys back there.”
In positive news, the Lions have activated tight end Shane Zylstra from injured reserve, giving them some much-needed help at the tight end position with Sam LaPorta out for the year and Brock Wright currently on injured reserve. Zylstar offers Detroit another receiving tight end option with plenty of experience in this offense.
Additionally, the Lions have elevated tight end Giovanni Ricci from the practice squad. Both he and Hallett give Detroit depth at the aforementioned thin tight end and safety positions.
So to recap:
- S Brian Branch to IR
- TE Shane Zylstra activated from IR (to 53-man roster)
- S Erick Hallett was elevated from the practice squad
- TE Giovanni Ricci was elevated from the practice squad
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