Brian Branch and Cade Mays will be back on the field for the Detroit Lions this week against the Green Bay Packers "barring anything negatively happening between now and the game," but Lions coach Dan Campbell said he's still figuring out how and how much to use both players.
"That’s one of the reasons why we’re practicing [Tuesday] and not Wednesday, so we can push some of these guys a little bit, knowing they’re going into a day off [Wednesday]," Campbell said. "I think that’ll help a little bit. And then we’ll have a really good idea by the time we hit the game. We already kind of have a range of what we’re looking at for [Branch] and for Cade a little bit. "
Branch has not played since tearing his Achilles tendon last December in a win over the Dallas Cowboys but is expected to be activated from the physically unable to perform list this week.
He will step into an immediate starting role in the Lions' struggling secondary, but Campbell said it would "be asking a lot to say he’s going to play 70 plays" in his first game action in more than 10 months.
"But we do feel like he can handle quite a bit here," Campbell said. "And we’re going to push him in practice here early."
The Lions have started four different safeties this year, and some of their problems in the secondary are due to poor play at a position that previously was one of the defense's strengths.
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Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox started the opener at safety, but Maddox broke his foot in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills and is out for the season. Christian Izien took Maddox's place in Weeks 3 and 4, and rookie cornerback Keith Abney replaced Izien in the starting lineup in Week 5.
Abney played primarily as the Lions' deep safety in their win over the Arizona Cardinals, while Clark has played both the free and strong safety positions this year. Branch can play nearly anywhere in the Lions secondary.
The Lions signed Mays to be their starting center in March, but the veteran lineman broke his wrist in training camp and opened the season on injured reserve.
Juice Scruggs has started every game at center for the Lions this season and was the top-graded center in the NFL through five games, according to Pro Football Focus.
Scruggs' play has left the Lions with a dilemma on their offensive line, Campbell said.
"That’s the hard thing," Campbell said. "Juice is playing pretty good football for us right now. He’s done a good job, he’s gotten better every week. And Juice is – here’s what you love. Juice is a fricking team guy. Doesn’t mean he, that if it comes to that, that he doesn’t like that, because there’s definitely an argument to keep him rolling because he’s playing good football. But he’s a team guy, he’s all in, he’ll do whatever we ask him to do."
Campbell said previously Scruggs would compete with Christian Mahogany for the starting left guard job once Mays was cleared to return, but Mahogany also has played well on a line that's been one of the best in the NFL this year.
Ultimately, Campbell said both Mays and Scruggs could see time at center this week, and he left the door open for Scruggs to play elsewhere or as the Lions' sixth lineman if needed.
"We’re still back and forth what we do with [Mays]," Campbell said. "Do we work he and Juice in and out? ... In the center position, that’s where it’s a little different than a guard, somebody who’s constantly touching the football. But either way, barring anything negatively happening between now and the game, we plan on playing both [Mays and Branch]."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions plan to have Brian Branch, Cade Mays back for Packers game