Detroit placed safety Brian Branch, safety Kerby Joseph and tight end Tyler Conklin on the physically unable to perform list, and it does not necessarily signal long-term loss. PUP only restricts on-field work at the start of camp, not meetings or rehab, and players can be activated at any time, even after a single day.
Who went on the PUP list and what does it actually mean?
Detroit Lions safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, plus tight end Tyler Conklin, will begin camp on PUP, which means they will not be in the first practice but can do meetings, conditioning and treatment. The PUP list is not injured reserve and activation can happen quickly.
The move aligns with standard camp housekeeping. It keeps roster flexibility while athletic training staff finishes return-to-play ramps. It does not forecast a season timeline by itself, and there are examples of players coming off PUP after one day.
PUP vs. NFI: what changes?
On PUP, players are paid and have full access to coaches, meetings and trainers but cannot practice. The Non-Football Injury list functions similarly in practice limits, but pay is not guaranteed on NFI.
When can Brian Branch return from his Achilles tear?
Branch is not expected for the start of training camp. Host Jeff Risdon noted Branch tore his Achilles in December and cited the common 8 to 10 month window for a return-to-play ramp. He framed Halloween or the Germany trip timeframe as reasonable targets, with the goal of regaining his pre-injury form rather than rushing early-camp reps.
The Lions have reinforced safety depth to absorb early-camp absences. Detroit Lions safety Chuck Clark, Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien and Detroit Lions defensive back Thomas Harper are in place to handle practice work until Branch is cleared.
What is going on with Kirby Joseph after his tweet?
Joseph is on PUP for knee management despite publicly betting he would avoid it, then following with a playful “y’all should have bet me” post after the designation. The team is managing his workload, and he can be activated at any time. Jefferson referenced an alleged degenerative knee condition and advocated for at least some preseason field testing so coaches know where he stands.
Dan Campbell previously said the staff does not yet have a definitive answer and wants to find out during camp. The upside case remains obvious; Joseph led the NFL in interceptions in 2024, a version of Joseph that raises Detroit’s defensive ceiling.
How does Tyler Conklin’s status impact tight end depth?
Conklin missed mandatory minicamp with an undisclosed issue and starts on PUP, which stresses the depth more than safety does. Good Tyler Conklin is an upgrade over Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright at TE2, and Jefferson made clear there is room to improve that spot. The Lions have enough safety depth to function early in camp, but they do not currently have three NFL tight ends available for any three-tight end looks.
Conklin’s prior productive stretch with the New York Jets underscores why Detroit signed him. Getting him cleared stabilizes the rotation and keeps the TE2 plan on track, even if three-tight end sets are not the base offense.
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