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SportsQuiet 42h · day 8

Lions safeties Branch, Joseph sidelined; Campbell says Joseph needs more time

Detroit's star safeties remain unavailable as the team's secondary struggles early in the season.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 1d ago11 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Both safeties remain on injured reserve through Week 4, with Branch eligible to return Week 5 and Joseph on an indefinite timeline pending knee strength recovery.
  • Branch, recovering from a December 2025 Achilles tear, is progressing faster than Joseph, whose knee injury has lingered over a year with ongoing complications.
  • The Lions' secondary is severely weakened with both safeties out and starting safety Avonte Maddox out for the season; the defense ranked last against the pass after Week 1.
  • Campbell will not rush Joseph's return despite early-season urgency, signaling the team views his knee condition as uncertain and requiring cautious management.

“Until we can get the knee to a certain point where it feels strong, as strong as we can possibly get it, and he feels comfortable, we're not going to put him out there.”

Dan Campbell, Lions head coach · Yahoo Sports ↗

Kerby JosephKerby Joseph Lions safetyBrian BranchBrian Branch Lions safetyDan CampbellDan Campbell Lions head coach

Lions safeties Branch, Joseph sidelined; Campbell says Joseph needs more time
Yahoo Sports

How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 4 pieces in two hours at Sep 22, 8 AM; 11 pieces over 8 days (11 articles) Sep 16, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 16, 4 AM — quietSep 16, 6 AM — quietSep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 12 PM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 12 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Sep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Newswires 3, Google News 1Sep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quiet 1234–5
Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 4:44 AM ET
  1. 5

    Sports Illustrated examines whether Joseph will ever play again

    Coverage emerged questioning whether the Lions' All-Pro safety will ever return to the field, as fans lose hope amid the extended knee recovery.

    “We're trying to get him back, but he's not ready…”
    — Dan Campbell, Lions head coach · source
    1. 1 outlet Fact or Fiction: Detroit Lions Kerby Joseph Will Never Play Again in NFL

      first by Sports Illustrated, 1d ago

  2. 4

    Campbell clarifies Joseph will return only when knee recovery allows

    Campbell reiterated that Kerby Joseph is not ready to return and emphasized the team will bring him back based on his readiness, not an arbitrary timeline.

    1. 1 outlet Dan Campbell on Kerby Joseph: We're trying to get him back, but he's not ready

      first by Yahoo Sports, 1d ago

  3. 3

    Campbell says both safeties won't return to practice this week

    Head coach Dan Campbell announced Branch and Joseph will remain sidelined despite being eligible to return to practice under new NFL rules. Campbell indicated Branch is closer to returning but gave no timeline, and noted Joseph needs additional time to strengthen his knee.

    “I think Branch has a chance to be back sooner than Kerby, but it won't be this week.”
    — Dan Campbell
    1. 1 outlet Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph won’t return to practice this week

      first by Yahoo Sports, 2d ago

      1 more headline
  4. 3 days quiet
  5. 2

    NFL insider reports Lions expect at least one safety back sooner than anticipated

    Following the Lions' 41-point loss to Buffalo, James Palmer of NFL on Prime reported the team anticipates at least one of Branch or Joseph could return much sooner than originally expected based on new injury information.

    1. 1 outlet Lions Expect Good News on Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph: Report

      first by Yahoo Sports, 5d ago

  6. 1

    Lions place Branch and Joseph on injured reserve, miss Bills game

    Both safeties opened the season on the physically unable to perform list, making them ineligible to return for the first four games. Branch is recovering from an Achilles tear suffered in December 2025; Joseph from a knee injury that limited him to six games in 2025.

    “Joseph, 25, was one of the NFL's best ballhawks before a knee injury derailed his 2025 season. He led the league with nine interceptions in 2024, earning first-team All-Pro honors.”
    — Yahoo Sports
    1. 1 outlet Bills get major advantage with Lions' 2 star safeties out

      first by Yahoo Sports, 8d ago

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Lions injury update: Brian Branch closer to returning than Kerby Joseph

    first by Detroit Free Press, 1d ago · also Yahoo Sports

and 2 smaller pieces