Safety Brian Branch is nearing a return to the practice field, offering a potential boost to a Detroit Lions secondary that has been decimated by injury. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the timeline on Friday, stating the defensive back is close to rejoining his teammates after missing the start of the season with a torn Achilles.
Campbell told reporters Branch was close to returning and had been putting in good work to make his return for the Lions. The 26-year-old, considered the heartbeat of the defense, has been sidelined since suffering the injury on Dec. 4 of the previous year. His potential return comes as the team prepares for Sunday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers.
While Branch prepares to rejoin the squad, the Lions lost another piece of their secondary depth to a division rival. Cornerback Natrone Brooks, who was released from the practice squad earlier in the week to make room for tight end Miles Kitselman, signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Friday.
The Minnesota Vikings announced on Friday that they signed Brooks to their practice squad. Brooks, a 26-year-old undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, spent time on Detroit’s practice squad in September before his release. This marks the second time this week a former Lion has joined a division opponent, following Green Bay’s signing of guard Kevin Zeitler.
To fill the void left by Brooks and the ongoing injury crisis, the Lions elevated veteran safety Jalen Mills from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Mills, who has 122 career starts, adds experience to a room that currently sees starters Chuck Clark and Christian Izien handling the bulk of the workload.
The Detroit Lions elevated safety Jalen Mills for their Sunday night game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4. The move comes as the team navigates a depleted secondary, with Branch and Kerby Joseph on the reserve/PUP list and Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper on injured reserve.
Porter Trade Details Emerge
General Manager Brad Holmes was actively involved in trade discussions for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before Dallas ultimately secured the deal, a fact confirmed by Dan Campbell. While the Lions did not pull the trigger, new reporting suggests the price range they were considering was significant.
Colton Pouncy of The Athletic described the potential sweet spot for a Lions-Steelers agreement as a third-round pick and a Day 3 pick. The Cowboys won the bidding by sending Pittsburgh a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. Holmes appears to have drawn the line at the cost required to beat Dallas, particularly given Porter is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is positioned for a massive extension.
Career Turning Point Revisited
Cornerback Khalil Dorsey returns to Carolina on Sunday, the site of the preseason game that saved his NFL career. Three years ago, Dorsey made a tackle, forced a fumble, and returned a kickoff 62 yards against the Panthers, solidifying his spot on the 53-man roster.
Dorsey remembers every play he made in that game that solidified his spot on the Lions roster. Since that August night in 2023, he has become a staple on special teams, earning praise as one of the league’s best gunners. He has played in all three contests this season, recording four tackles and a tackle for loss.
This article was created by aggregating Detroit Lions news using Artificial Intelligence.
