The Detroit Lions are once again facing a brutal wave of injuries on defense, and this season it may finally be too much to overcome. A year after
battling through similar setbacks, Detroit’s secondary has been decimated in 2025, leaving defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard scrambling for answers.
Even before Week 1, the Lions lost Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and rookie safety Dan Jackson to Injured Reserve. Rising star cornerback Terrion Arnold joined them earlier this week, and veteran safety
Kerby Joseph hasn’t played since Week 6. During Thursday night’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, safety Thomas Harper exited with a concussion — and then came the crushing blow: Brian Branch tore his Achilles.
Branch’s season-ending injury removes Detroit’s most versatile defensive back, the player whose reliability and range were holding the patchwork secondary together. With him gone, the back end of the defense is in crisis.
That’s why general manager Brad Holmes may have little choice but to make the most obvious move available — signing free-agent safety Justin Simmons. Despite being a Second-Team All-Pro as
recently as 2023 and playing solid football with Atlanta last season, Simmons remains surprisingly unsigned. His experience, leadership, and proven production make him the best (and perhaps only) viable option to stabilize Detroit’s collapsing secondary.
If the Lions hope to stay afloat in the NFC playoff race, Holmes may need to bring in Simmons immediately.
