The Lions doled out a decent guarantee to upgrade at center this offseason, signing Cade Mays after he closed his rookie contract as the Panthers’ starter. Mays will not face his former team Sunday night, but a return appears near.
Dan Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) the hope is Mays returns following Detroit’s Week 6 bye. The fifth-year veteran suffered a fractured wrist during training camp, leading him to an IR-return slot when the Lions assembled their initial 53-man roster in August.
Mays already counts against the Lions’ eight regular-season injury activations, a decision that has long pointed to internal confidence he would be back for his debut season in Detroit. The Lions gave Mays a three-year, $25MM deal that included $14MM guaranteed at signing. Mays will be on track to reclaim the role as the Lions’ starting center. Trade pickup Juice Scruggs has begun the season there in Mays’ absence.
Detroit used a different injury designation on Brian Branch, as the rehabbing safety did not practice during camp. Branch landed on the Lions’ reserve/PUP list in August, sidelining him for at least four games. Although an offseason rule change has allowed players stashed on PUP lists to begin practicing ahead of Week 3, Branch remains sidelined. But a return appears close for the All-Pro DB.
Campbell said Friday Branch is “close” to returning from an Achilles injury sustained last December. The Lions are decimated at safety entering Week 4, with Kerby Joseph (PUP) and Avonte Maddox (IR) not on the 53-man roster. Because Branch is on the reserve/PUP list, his eventual move back to the active will not count against the Lions’ eight injury activations.
Joseph is battling what may well be a career-altering degenerative knee condition, and the Lions have paused his rehab as of this week. Maddox suffered a season-ending foot injury last month. Free agent pickups Chuck Clark and Christian Izien are manning Detroit’s first-string safety posts, but Branch appears close to reclaiming his starting gig.
Branch suffered an Achilles tear in Week 14 last season. Once he returns to practice, the Lions have 21 days to activate him. Although Joseph appears at a career crossroads, Branch has recovered on schedule. A return to practice next week, with an eye on coming back after the Lions’ Week 6 bye, would make sense as fourth-year player concludes his rehab process.
Branch remains in the Lions’ extension plans, but his injury situation will likely force him to display his previous form before the team commits. The Lions extended Jack Campbell and Jahmyr Gibbs this offseason but allowed Branch and Sam LaPorta to begin contract years. Big decisions are on tap for the NFC North team, one that has authorized a host of extensions over the past three years, in the coming months.