Lions place starting safeties Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch on PUP list

The Detroit Lions placed starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list ahead of the start of training camp this week. They also added tight end Tyler Conklin, who signed with the franchise this offseason, to the PUP list as well.

Joseph is dealing with a knee injury that limited him for much of the 2025 season. He missed time during training camp last year, was unable to finish several games and missed 11 games. He tallied three interceptions and four passes defended in the six games he appeared in last season.

Branch is recovering from a torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season in Week 14. Branch had 75 total tackles and nine passes defended before going down with the injury.

Conklin missed time during OTAs with an injury.

Joseph, Branch and Conklin are eligible to come off the PUP list during training camp, but if they begin the regular season on it, they’ll have to miss a minimum of four games before the Lions could add them to the active roster.

What it means

While not entirely unexpected, the Lions will be without their two starting safeties when training camp begins Wednesday. Given the timing of Branch’s injury, avoiding a PUP stint was always going to be a long shot. However, if there was hope for one of these players to be ready, it was Joseph. The Lions were cautious with him all offseason, after a knee injury kept him out for the final two months of the season. He didn’t participate in OTAs or minicamp, with Dan Campbell telling reporters the Lions won’t know what to expect from Joseph this year until they’re in the thick of training camp.

Truthfully, there’s no reason to push Joseph right now, but for a player who last suited up in October and hasn’t been tested since the season ended, you’d like to at least see how the knee responds in practice before the season begins. Perhaps it’s as simple needing a bit more time before the Lions clear him, which can happen at any point during training camp. But eventually, the Lions will need their star safeties on the field to elevate the ceiling of this defense. Between Terrion Arnold’s arrest and release, and these two injuries, the Lions will be without three members of their 2025 starting secondary as camp begins. — Pouncy