Highlights from Detroit Lions 44-30 victory over Dallas Cowboys in Week 14 matchup
“So, we’ve got options here. It’s like anything, you lose a good player, it hurts. But it’s not like we’re in dire straits.”
ALLEN PARK — Brian Branch is done for the season, and Kerby Joseph is still trying to work his way back with four games left.
Branch suffered a torn Achilles tendon late in the fourth quarter in last week’s game. His season is done, and the do-it-all defensive back faces a long recovery.
“Anytime you lose somebody like BB, it’s going to hurt. I mean, he’s a productive player,” Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “He’s an outstanding football player. And he’s a team guy, he’s a great locker room guy, teammates love him, so you lose all of that. That hurts, that’s going to hurt you anytime.”
The Lions (8-5) are also missing Thomas Harper, who has been starting in place of Joseph for seven games. Harper exited in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. Harper remains in concussion protocol, and it sounds like the Lions don’t expect to have enough time to get him back for their trip to face the Rams in Los Angeles.
But Joseph is expected to try to do more in practice this week. Joseph returned for one practice last week, but did not participate the rest of the week before missing another game due to the lingering knee issue.
The All-Pro safety was sporting a hefty brace on his left knee at his first practice back in a month-plus. Joseph didn’t sound optimistic about the ability to fix the issue, but the Lions are hoping to get him to a manageable point to try to play again this season.
“We’re going to see if Kerby, see where he’s at, get him some reps here in practice,“ Campbell said. ”So, we’re good, man. “We signed (Damontae) Kazee, see where he’s at, practice squad. So, we’ve got options here. It’s like anything, you lose a good player, it hurts. But it’s not like we’re in dire straits.”
If Joseph and Harper are unable to play this weekend, look for Avonte Maddox to handle one of those spots. Campbell credited the veteran for helping “put out some fires” after he came in for Harper last week. The Lions also love his ability to help out at nickelback and back deep at safety.
Maddox had eight tackles and one pass breakup while playing a season-high 80 snaps. In fact, those 80 defensive snaps were more than Maddox had played in the previous 10 games.
“Now that being said, Maddox went in there for him the other day, and we thought he did a hell of a job, he really did,” Campbell said Monday. “I mean, he played his tail off, which is why he’s here, because he’s a football guy. He’s got versatility, nickel that can play safety. Man, he put out a lot of fires back there for us, made quite a few plays. So, that’s encouraging.
“So, we’ve got him, we’ve got (Thomas) DT back there, Hallet’s played there before.”
The other options are Daniel Thomas, Erick Hallett II and the freshly signed Damontae Kazee. The Lions added Kazee to the practice squad on Monday. NFL Network reports the plan is to get Kazee ready for a quick acclimation to help fill Branch’s role this season.
Kazee, 32, was a fifth-round pick out of San Diego State back in 2017. He’s started 63 times while playing 111 games across nine seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Kazee played four games in Cleveland this season, but has only 11 defensive plays under his belt.
The test ahead for the short-handed defensive backfield doesn’t get any easier. Detroit heads to Los Angeles to face the Rams and surging quarterback Matthew Stafford. The former Lions quarterback is a leading MVP candidate, with 3,554 yards, 35 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 13 games this season. Stafford leads the league in touchdown passes and is averaging the fourth-highest completion percentage (66.7%) of his 17-year career.
“The front is just as important as the backend,” Campbell said of facing Stafford. “These guys will understand what they’re getting ready to face. We know this is an outstanding quarterback; he’s got weapons, and they’re versatile. And like I said, very good coaching.
“We’ve got to find a way to get takeaways, you’ve got to do it. We’ve got to do it again.”
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