Pro Football Rumors
It’s been expected for some time now that the Lions would be without starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch to start training camp and, possibly, the season. Detroit confirmed the earlier of the two dates, placing both defensive backs on the active/physically unable to perform list today. Joining them, as well, is veteran tight end Tyler Conklin.
Joseph signed a record-setting extension last April, but the Lions barely got to enjoy it before he went down with injury in Week 6 with a nagging knee issue. It was thought that Joseph would be able to return at some point in the season, but the league’s 2024 interception leader would remain limited to six games after a setback landed him on injured reserve. Branch landed on IR in early December after suffering a torn Achilles tendon.
In May, reports indicated that the two were recovering well, but by the end of the month, more specific timelines granted that Branch would likely not return in time for training camp, while Joseph could take even longer due to what had turned into “a degenerative condition in his knee.” By June, it seemed as if the Lions were preparing to open the regular season without either defensive starter. News that they have landed on the active/PUP list does not come as a surprise, then, but it does start the clock for Week 1. With only a little over a month remaining before the season starts, how much can Joseph and Branch recover in that time, and if they can’t return, how much regular season time will they miss?
Conklin’s appearance on the injured list is a bit more unexpected. Luckily, his role, while important, isn’t nearly as crucial as the starters on defense. Conklin may be just one year removed from a four-year stretch as a full-time starter in the NFL, but his role in Detroit is expected to be as TE3. After breaking out in the final year of his rookie contract with the Vikings, Conklin proved he could be a consistent contributor as a starter with the Jets. He played out a one-year deal with the Chargers last year, during which he competed with Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk for snaps while rookie sensation Oronde Gadsden II dominated tight end targets.
With the Lions this year, Conklin was expected to be insurance behind star Sam La Porta and Brock Wright. Conklin has starting ability, though, so if he can make his way back to the field he could prove to be a reliable third option on the end. There’s been far less information on Conklin’s situation, so it’s unclear when he might return, but with a wait expected for the safety pair, the defense has already announced plans for interim starters. The fact that they haven’t done the same for Conklin may bode well for a quick recovery.
