The Detroit Lions kept their playoff push alive with a 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, but the victory came at a steep cost. Tests on Friday confirmed that safety Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles, a major blow to a defense already walking a tightrope.
Branch, now in his third NFL season, has been nothing short of essential for Detroit’s secondary. He’s not just a rising star-he’s been one of the most consistent playmakers on a defense that’s had to weather its share of injuries. With Kerby Joseph sidelined for the last seven games due to a knee issue, Branch had stepped into an even larger role, anchoring the back end and providing the kind of versatility and football IQ that coaches dream about.
His injury came late in the fourth quarter, with just under four minutes left on the clock. As he and linebacker Alex Anzalone converged to defend a pass in the end zone, Branch came up limping.
He managed to walk off under his own power, but the scene quickly turned somber as he was carted to the locker room. Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t have an immediate update postgame, only saying they’d know more after further evaluation.
Now they do-and it’s the kind of news that shifts the outlook for a team clinging to playoff hopes.
At 8-5, the Lions are sitting just one game behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final NFC playoff spot. Every game from here on out carries massive weight, and the timing of this injury couldn’t be worse.
Detroit faces a crucial showdown on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams-a game that already had plenty of emotional weight, with former Lions quarterback and fan favorite Matthew Stafford returning to face his old team. Now it doubles as a test of resilience.
Losing Branch doesn’t just hurt from a talent standpoint-it also impacts the Lions’ flexibility on defense. His ability to play multiple roles in the secondary gave defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn options when it came to disguising coverages and matching up with different offensive looks. Without him, Detroit will have to lean even harder on a group that’s already been stretched thin.
Dan Campbell has built this team around toughness and grit, and they’ve shown it all season long. But losing a player like Branch this late in the year is a gut punch. If the Lions are going to claw their way into the postseason, they’ll need to find answers fast-and maybe dig even deeper than they already have.