The injury gods giveth, and they take away.
That's especially true for the Detroit Lions. The 2024 injury bug that plagued them isn't quite as strong this season, but it's clear the team could still use some medicine to get rid of it completely.
Head coach Dan Campbell shared with reporters ahead of Week 9 that the Lions were expecting to get back Brian Branch (suspension), Terrion Arnold (shoulder), and Taylor Decker (shoulder) at practice this week, but he did leave out one huge name in those injury updates: safety Kerby Joseph.
Getting both him and Branch back onto the field is huge for the Lions' defense, but it doesn't sound likely for the Lions' matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Campbell told 97.1 FM The Ticket on Wednesday morning that Joseph is progressing after suffering a knee injury back in Week 6, but isn't ready to go just yet.
Dan Campbell with an update on Kerby Josephβs knee injury, via @971theticketxyt:
βYeah look, he's improving, but he still got a little bit to go here. So, we'll know more in the next couple of days. But you know, he's better than he was before we left for the bye." pic.twitter.com/j4vr5JHFlP
β ππ₯π’ ππ’π±π―π¬π¦π± ππ¦πͺπ’π° π° (@the_det_times) October 29, 2025
Joseph still not ready to go amidst suffering knee injury
Joseph has been one of the Lions' best defenders in coverage this season. He's already stacked up three interceptions, four passes defended, and 18 total tackles. Quarterbacks have been fearful to pass around him, which means he's doing an excellent job for a shorthanded Lions secondary. Without him, Branch is expected to step up against Minnesota and their talented WR corp.
Branch, of course, has been one of Detroit's biggest weapons on defense alongside Joseph this season. While he has no takeaways yet, he's been close several times, and he's itching to get back on the field one week removed from his suspension for the Lions' Week 7 bout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Lions S Brian Branch is back from suspension. A couple of notes:
-Branch said he couldnβt bring himself to watch the Bucs game
-Said the reserve secondary played better than the starters
-Enjoyed seeing the 32 jerseys worn by teammates
-Said heβs getting baptized tomorrow pic.twitter.com/F5h4ICJsKl
β Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) October 28, 2025
What does this mean for the Lions' plan against J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings offense? Well, the "Legion of Whom" is set to be relied up on heavily again, assuming Arnold isn't ready quite yet for this game. Erick Hallett and Arthur Maulet are expected to step up again, and Thomas Harper is available to slot in for Joseph with Branch back.
Minnesota might be shaky regardless with their pass game considering this is McCarthy's first game back since he played in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. They're adjusting back to his style in the pocket, and will have to hope that perhaps the unpredictable aspect to his game (given he hasn't suited up much for Minnesota this season) can offer an advantage against this Lions defense.