The Lions continue to see Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph‘s return timelines stalled. We heard recently both safeties would begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, and Detroit made those moves and more injury-related transactions in moving to 53 today.
Released:
DL Myles Adams
LB Joe Bachie
TE Tyler Conklin
WR Greg Dortch
WR Tom Kennedy
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
LB Troy Reeder
DL Ben Stille
RB Trayveon Williams
Waived:
QB Luke Altmyer
WR Tarik Black
CB Ekow Boye-Doe
DB Aamaris Brown
OL Devin Cochran
CB Bump Cooper
WR Malik Cunningham
TE Thomas Gordon
OL Gus Hartwig
TE Zach Horton
LB Erick Hunter
S Dan Jackson
WR Lucky Jackson
WR Dominic Lovett
EDGE Anthony Lucas
G Mason Miller
G Melvin Priestly
CB Eric Scott Jr.
DL Chris Smith
OL Colby Sorsdal
S Jason Taylor II
DL Tyre West
CB Nick Whiteside
RB Roydell Williams
Waived/injured:
OL Michael Niese
Placed on IR (return designation):
C Cade Mays
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
DB Brian Branch
S Kerby Joseph
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
OL Giovanni Manu
Just because it had emerged as the likely scenario does not mean the blow isn’t tough for Detroit to open the season. Branch is an All-Pro, Joseph a Pro Bowler — one who signed a lucrative extension in 2025. Branch is rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in December, while Joseph is dealing with a degenerative knee condition that emerged last season. Joseph missed 11 games last season.
At the outset of Lions camp, Dan Campbell said Joseph was iffy for Week 1. His murky timeline will lead to at least a four-game absence, though both players could return to practice after Week 2. The Lions are preparing to start Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox in place of their standouts. Joseph’s timeline will be a storyline to closely follow in a competitive NFC North.
Neither Branch nor Joseph will count toward Detroit’s injury activation total, but Mays will. The free agent center pickup will miss at least four games after suffering a wrist fracture earlier this month. With an eight- to 10-week return timeline emerging after that injury, IR was always the most likely outcome here. Mays should have a chance to return by midseason at the latest.