Lions activate practice windows for Brian Branch and Cade Mays

The Detroit Lions are inching closer to full strength on both sides of the ball. Head coach Dan Campbell announced that safety Brian Branch and centre Cade Mays are returning to practice this week, triggering 21‑day activation windows for both players to rejoin the 53‑man roster.

Branch strengthens a battered secondary after Achilles rehab

Branch, who tore his Achilles last December, opened the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list alongside fellow starting safety Kerby Joseph. Joseph’s timetable remains uncertain, though the Lions expect him to attempt to play through ongoing knee issues at some point this year.

Without Branch and Joseph for the first four games, Detroit’s defence has been under heavy fire during a 2–2 start. The Lions sit last in the NFL in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed, and rank 31st in points surrendered. Depth has been further tested with Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper, who had stepped in at safety, both suffering long‑term injuries in September.

Following a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Maddox underwent season‑ending foot surgery. Harper was later placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Since then, Chuck Clark and Christian Izien have handled the bulk of the safety snaps. Over a two‑game stretch against the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Detroit yielded 650 passing yards, five touchdown passes and failed to record an interception.

A 2023 second‑round pick, Branch now targets his first action of the 2026 season. He may not be ready in time for Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, but a Week 6 bye gives him a chance to be available for an October 25 divisional game against the Green Bay Packers. Branch is also in a contract year, and the Lions have already flagged him as a priority for a new deal.

Mays’ return gives Lions options — and decisions — up front

Mays injured his wrist in early August, leading Detroit to place him on injured reserve with a return designation when the initial 53‑man roster was set. A four‑year veteran of the Carolina Panthers, he signed one of the Lions’ headline free‑agent deals in the offseason, a three‑year, $25MM contract to start at centre after Frank Ragnow’s retirement left a major hole in 2025.

In Mays’ absence, Juice Scruggs — acquired from the Houston Texans in the David Montgomery trade — has taken over in the middle. Roughly a month into the regular season, Scruggs is Pro Football Focus’ top‑graded centre among 33 qualifiers, turning a presumed stopgap into a strength.

Despite that, Scruggs could change positions once Mays is cleared. Campbell said last week, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, that Scruggs will "absolutely" be in contention at left guard. The Lions have started Christian Mahogany at that spot, and PFF currently ranks him third among 74 qualifying guards. When Mays returns, Detroit’s coaching staff will face a good problem up front: how to deploy an unusually deep interior offensive line without disrupting what has been strong individual play.