Lions won't rush Branch return from Achilles tear
Key takeaways
- I'm gonna just go ahead and widen the window so we don't have to talk about it anymore.
- There is also a slim chance that Branch could be a candidate for the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the 2026 season, according to Campbell, but nothing is certain at this time.
- Branch suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14 during the fourth quarter of the Lions' 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night and had to be carted off the field.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- There are currently no setbacks with Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch as he continues to recover from his season-ending Achilles injury in 2025, but it's highly unlikely he will return ahead of training camp.
"I guess there's always a chance. I'm gonna just go ahead and widen the window so we don't have to talk about it anymore. Let's just go ahead and say December," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Branch. "Anything before that is a bonus."
There is also a slim chance that Branch could be a candidate for the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the 2026 season, according to Campbell, but nothing is certain at this time.