Detroit Lions place safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on reserve/PUP

The Detroit Lions placed starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list during roster cutdowns on August 30. Both players are now ineligible for the team’s first four games of the regular season, including matchups against the Saints, Bills, Jets, and Panthers. Joseph continues to manage a knee injury that ended his previous season, while Branch remains in recovery from a torn Achilles sustained in December. Coach Dan Campbell indicated both players are progressing, and new NFL rules allow them to return to practice after two weeks on the list. The Lions may now look to add depth at the position, as projected starters Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox, along with backups Thomas Harper and Christian Izien, are currently navigating their own injury concerns.

• 10:30 PMYahoo Sports — Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch on PUP with injuries, will miss Lions games
• 10:23 PMYahoo Sports — Lions place Branch, Joseph on reserve/PUP, both to miss 4 games