Detroit Lions 2026 training camp preview: Overcoming injuries at safety

In this installment of our Detroit Lions 2026 training camp preview series, we wrap up the defensive side of the ball by examining the Lions’ safeties, speculating on current and future roles, and discussing how many players from this group could make the 53-man roster.

Previous training camp previews:

• Quarterback: Can Luke Altmyer force a QB3 role?
• Running back: How RB roles could shift in 2026
• Wide receiver: WR depth roles up for grabs
• Tight end: How many TEs will make the roster?
• Offensive tackle: Can Blake Miller win the starting RT job?
• Interior OL: How quickly will Cade Mays adapt to scheme?
• Defensive tackles: DT has upgraded starters, questionable depth
• Edge rushers: 4 big questions at the EDGE
• Linebackers: Adapting the LB room
• Cornerbacks: Nickel sets mean more opportunities for CBs

Roster construction

Under the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have maintained a fairly consistent roster of safeties, typically keeping four or five safeties on the active roster. Let’s take a look at what they’ve done at safety in the previous five seasons:

• 2021: Opened the season with four safeties but ended up with six at season’s close.
• 2022: Started and ended the season with five safeties.
• 2023: Started and ended the season with just four safeties.
• 2024: Started with five safeties on the roster but operated and ended with four.
• 2025: Opened with five safeties, fluctuated as high as six mid-season to deal with injuries, then ended with only four.

Overcoming injuries

The Lions entered 2025 with the best safety tandem in the NFL, with Brian Branch earning a spot in the Pro Bowl and Kerby Joseph coming off an All-Pro season. Unfortunately, Branch would suffer a torn Achilles in December, and Joseph failed to see the field after six games due to a lingering knee injury. The Lions turned to their depth for the majority of the season, with Thomas Harper and Avonte Maddox proving to be the steadiest contributors.

This offseason, with Branch and Joseph’s statuses in question, the Lions secured a lot of safeties in the offseason with the plan of letting them battle it out for roles. Harper returns to Detroit for the third season on his rookie contract, and they re-signed Maddox, then added Christian Izien and Chuck Clark in free agency. Additionally, 2025 seventh-round pick Dan Jackson is returning from injury, practice squader Loren Strickland was re-signed, and rookie UDFA Aamaris Brown was added following the conclusion of the NFL Draft.

There’s a chance Joseph will be able to overcome his knee injury to start the season, and Branch will quickly return to form once he fully recovers from injury, but until they have better answers, the Lions will open up their options in one of the most competitive training camp battles of 2026.

The battleground

Latest injury updates for Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph

[Branch is more than likely going...