The Detroit Lions are healthy out of the bye and Lions defensive back Brian Branch will return on October 25 to a full workload. Doctor Jimmy Liao said Detroit will start him and keep him near 90 to 100 percent of snaps, with cramps the only watch item. Depth pieces are trending up too.
Will Brian Branch play a full workload right away?
Yes. Doctor Jimmy Liao said the Lions do not ease players back and expects Brian Branch to start and play 90 to 100 percent of snaps. The Achilles recovery timeline hit exactly as projected, 10 to 11 months, with the late-October target now here.
As Jeff Risdon noted, Dr. Liao pegged Halloween as the window right after the injury, and Brian Branch lands squarely on that October 25 return. If his snap count dips well below expectations, Liao said that would signal fatigue, not re-injury. He added the only real in-game watch item is Brian Branch’s history of cramping.
What do the Lions expect from Cade Mays and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.?
Cade Mays is cleared to go without functional concerns. Doctor Jimmy Liao confirmed the right wrist fracture, on the snapping hand, was surgically addressed and does not limit him now, with only a small long-term arthritis risk to note.
Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is ascending. Jeff Risdon said Rakestraw is up to about 50 percent of defensive snaps and pushed for a full starter’s load. Both hosts welcomed the positive turn for Rakestraw and the broader health report coming out of the bye.
How should Detroit handle Sam LaPorta’s contract after back surgery?
Cautiously. Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a microdiscectomy, which removes tissue and carries a recurrence risk of roughly five to fifteen percent, per Doctor Jimmy Liao. By contrast, Liao said an Achilles rerupture sits around two percent, underscoring why back history weighs more in extension math.
Liao explained the franchise tag is a blunt tool, with a projected 17,200,000 fully guaranteed hit for one year and modern “hold-in” risks if a player is unhappy. Jeff Risdon added that tagging to trade invites another hurdle, because the acquiring team must also meet Sam LaPorta’s contract demands. Liao also flagged future cap ripple effects, including potential 2027 dead money if Lions safety Kerby Joseph is released, as factors in Detroit’s calculus.
What is the outlook for Kerby Joseph and how should Dan Campbell manage snap counts?
For Lions safety Kirby Joseph, Doctor Jimmy Liao said ongoing knee pain and swelling indicate further cartilage damage, which is not fixable. He emphasized that shots like PRP or stem cells do not regrow cartilage, so repeated flare-ups signal harmful wear that has long-term consequences.
Liao also urged head coach Dan Campbell to trim workloads. He cited heavy snap counts for edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta, and called for pulling starters when up 31 points with two minutes left, or with a 24 lead late. As Jeff Risdon put it, if not then, when. Looking to Sunday at 4:25 against the Green Bay Packers, Risdon expects Detroit to win, but both he and Liao want fresher stars for December and January.
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