The Detroit Lions may be facing another major setback in an already injury-plagued secondary, as standout safety Brian Branch is feared to have suffered an Achilles injury during Thursday night’s 44–30 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
According to NFL Network, the former second-round pick will undergo further testing Friday morning, but early indications suggest a potentially significant injury. NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported, “Lions standout DB Brian Branch is feared to have suffered an Achilles injury on Thursday night, sources tell me and @rapsheet. Branch will have further tests this morning. But another potential blow to a Detroit team coming off a huge win.”
Branch went down in the fourth quarter and was carted off the field, requiring trainers’ assistance before exiting the end zone. Speaking after the game, cornerback Amik Robertson didn’t mince words about the impact: “I don’t know what happened… BB’s a tremendous player, he’s a hard guy to replace. But the way this team is built… next-man up mentality. I think the guys that came in, they did a great job.”
Detroit’s secondary has battled attrition all season. Rookie Terrion Arnold was previously ruled out for the remainder of 2025 with a shoulder injury and multiple setbacks, including a concussion. Veteran D.J. Reed also missed significant time with a hamstring injury before sealing Thursday’s win with a late interception.
Compounding matters, Kerby Joseph — who signed a major extension in the offseason — has missed seven straight games with a knee injury, with no clear timetable for return. In his absence, Branch and Thomas Harper have shouldered the load. Harper, however, was also unable to finish the Cowboys game due to a concussion evaluation.
With injuries mounting and the playoff race tightening, the Lions could be forced to rely even more heavily on their depth as they await official word on Branch’s status.
