Brian Branch shares an encouraging look into his rehab process

The Detroit Lions have several significant injury cases they are juggling as they go through the OTA slate this year, and one that is flying a bit under the radar is safety Brian Branch.

Kerby Joseph continues to make the majority of headlines at the position as his future remains firmly up in the air thanks to ongoing knee ailments. In spite of that, Branch continues his journey back from an Achilles injury last year, and is just as important to the cause.

Thankfully, there is good news on the Branch front. While he might not be slated for a return until well into the 2026 season, he's been working hard to come back and has been doing a great job to rehab properly this offseason.

Recently, Branch spoke a bit about his recovery process and how he is working with AthleteRX to get back on the field quicker. As he said in the video clipped by The Detroit Times, the team he works with have made an unfortunate situation an easier one to deal with.

"Any injury I have I know they'll get me right. Not just get me right, but get me back quicker, too. Them being who they are and just me trusting them, they help me a long way. From doing rehab and going to the field, I feel like it's easy working with them. We pretty much do a lot in here. Stuff I do on the field, and by the time I get on the field, it's pretty much like making a lay up."

Here's a look at Branch doing some work moving a tire, which is a surefire way for him to build back upper body strength as well as leg drive amid his recovery.

Obviously, given his age and importance to Detroit's defensive backfield, Branch is quite possibly the most important Lions player to be rehabbing this offseason. The Lions aren't likely to think about a date for his return until training camp at the earliest, and even then, it's likely Branch will come back during the season.

For now, it's good to see him continuing to do what needs to be done off the field to ensure he has the best chance possible to return quickly. These are all encouraging signs as offseason work continues.

Dan Campbell is a big believer in Lions' depth at safety this year

While the Lions wait for Branch to come back, guys already on the roster at safety will be vital to watch as well. Last year, the Lions struggled on the back end thanks to injuries. They did see key players emerge down the stretch, and those guys will be returning to help lead the charge.

Campbell appreciates the depth the Lions have built up at safety through the offseason, and is encouraged by all the different pieces the team has to throw at the opposition. Even without Branch and Joseph, there are intriguing players coming up.

"I really like that group. When you talk about going into training camp, Chuck Clark, (Avonte) Maddox, (Christian) Izien. There's a ton of guys back there that'll be competing. We got (Thomas) Harper back, Dan Jackson's coming off injury. (Loren) Strickland is there. It's a pretty competitive group with some young players and some headsy veteran guys. I feel good even knowing, okay, it's going to take (Brian) Branch a minute, right? And then Kirby (Joseph), we're hopeful, but I like that room. I do."

The Lions smartly brought back Maddox to play a role this year, and when combined with the addition of Clark, that could be a formidable veteran 1-2 punch that helps Detroit bridge the gap if both Branch and Joseph don't get on the field quickly. Additionally, some of the young players Campbell mentioned could play a role for depth as well as special teams.

Detroit's hope still remains that Branch comes back quickly to boost the group on his own. As he showed, he's working hard to make that possibility a reality.

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