The Detroit Lions will see two key players make their season debut on Sunday vs the Green Bay Packers.
Safety Brian Branch will play for the first time since his right Achilles rupture almost 11 months ago. With the defensive secondary struggling mightily this season, Branch will be tasked with cleaning up the shit…
“Now I’m back. Why?”
“You go on. You fight for as long as you can. You clean up as much of the shit as you can.”
-Game of Thrones
(Spoiler Alert)
Center Cade Mays will also see his first action of the season after his right wrist fracture in training camp. While there isn’t as much shit to clean up with the offensive line, there is still a lot of room for improvement - especially with the running game.
Jahmyr Gibbs’ yards per attempt has dipped this season to 4.8 - the lowest of his career (5.0 in 2025, 5.6 in 2024, & 5.2 in 2023). Visibly, there just don’t seem to be as many holes for Gibbs to run through. Hopefully, Mays can help juice the running game, which is one of the core tenets of this team.
On the Packers’ side, their electric running back, Josh Jacobs, will make his season debut as he hopes to revive the team’s heretofore moribund running game.
Now, for the complete injury report and analysis…
Lions vs Packers Final Injury Report
Key Trends
The Packers had two new issues pop up during the practice week with starting LBs Zaire Franklin’s shin and Lukas Van Ness’ illness. Franklin will be out, while Van Ness is in.
🔴”Out” or “Doubtful” designation
🟡”Questionable”
🟢”In”
* Current starter
DETROIT LIONS (open -3, current -3)
🟡 *Brian Branch, S - Right Achilles (December 4, 2025)
Projection: In
Not sure why Branch and Mays are “questionables” since Dan Campbell has already stated that both are playing a full workload on Sunday. I expect Branch to get close to 100% of snaps. Cramps and fatigue are the only things that might reduce his snap count.
🟡 *Cade Mays, C - Right wrist fracture (August 9)
Projection: In
It will be great to see Mays get 100% of snaps on Sunday. The only thing better is if he loses some snaps in garbage time because the Lions are winning by 30 points.
Lions “questionables” have played 3 of 4 times this season. That will become 5 of 6 on Sunday. Last year, the rate was 78%.
🟢 Rock Ya-Sin, CB - Hamstring (October 4)
Ya-Sin missed last game with this hamstring, but is ready to go after a full practice today. Though there is a chance he’ll be a “healthy” inactive on gameday to avoid an aggravation. Last time he played, he was only on special teams.
Notables Unlisted
🔴*Kerby Joseph (S) is still on the PUP list with his left knee issue. See my Lions Packers Initial Injury Report story to see his latest workout video.
🔴Isiah Pacheco (RB) has missed the entire season on IR due to back surgery, with a possible return in December.
🔴Thomas Harper (S) has missed three games on IR with an ankle and is eligible to open his 21-day practice window after the Packers game.
See my Lions IR/PUP/NFI Tracker for all the details.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
🔴 *Zaire Franklin, LB - Shin
This starting linebacker was kneed in the shin during practice according to Matt LaFleur and is out. Franklin has played almost 99% of snaps through the first six games of the season.
Presumably, Franklin has a contusion due to mechanism of injury. Either this is a severe contusion or there is concern for the possibility of something worse. A significant laceration is possible. In rare cases, a limb-threatening compartment syndrome can occur with a lower leg contusion. Another unlikely possibility is what happened with Jalen Hurts, who had a vein thrombosis after getting cleated.
See my Jalen Hurts Blood Clot Initial Analysis for more on that saga…
🟡Aaron Banks, G - Knee/toe
Banks last played in Week 2. I believe former Lion Laken Tomlinson has usurped him.
🟡Bo Melton, WR - Back
Melton has 4 receptions for 30 yards this year.
🟡Jordon Riley, DT - Achilles
Riley had his 21-day practice window opened last Wednesday, so he probably won’t be ready yet against the Lions. He ruptured his Achilles on December 27, 2025.
🟡Benjamin St-Juste, CB - Hamstring
This backup has played almost exclusively on special teams this year.
🟢*Lukas Van Ness, LB - Illness
This impact LB has played 66% of snaps this season and has 3.5 sacks.
🟢*Jordan Love, QB - Back
The back is important for everything, including throwing the ball, but I don’t expect much of a problem for Love.
🟢*Christian Watson, WR - Ankle
From what I saw, Watson looked like he hurt his right ankle or Achilles area last game. He has been very productive this year with 39 receptions for 538 yards.
🟢*Matthew Golden, WR - Shoulder
Golden has been a dynamic playmaker this season with 30 receptions for 501 yards.
🟢*Savion Williams, WR - Ankle
Williams has 4 receptions for 32 yards this year.
🟢*Brandon Cisse, CB - Shoulder/neck
Cisse appeared to me to have a right arm stinger last game. Presumably his cervical imaging was negative, which makes him good to go.
🟢Anthony Campbell, DT - Ankle
Notables Unlisted
🟢*Josh Jacobs (RB) is expected to play for the first time this year after missing six games on the commissioner exempt list due to an off-the-field incident.
🔴*Micah Parsons (EDGE) is still recovering from his December 14 ACL tear, which included meniscus damage.
🔴*Jayden Reed (WR) suffered a spine injury in Week 2 that may have caused a temporary paralysis. He is on IR.
🔴*Zach Bako-Bewele (RT) ruptured his patellar tendon in Week 2 and is out for the year.
🔴*Edgerrin Cooper (LB) ruptured his Achilles in Week 4. This playmaker already had three sacks on the year.
🔴*Javon Hargrave (DT) ruptured his Achilles in Week 5 and was put on IR. He had been playing about 50% of defensive snaps.
🔴Chris Brooks (RB) was placed on IR after Week 4 with an ankle sprain. This backup RB had 70 rushing yards this season.
🔴Jonathan Ford (DT) had a calf injury in Week 5 that landed him on IR. He was playing around 20-40% of defensive snaps.
Unless the Lions have cloned Branch and he can play both sides of the backfield at the same time, Love's back is going to be 1,000% humming along to the tune of over 300 yards and 3 TDs. Maybe more if the Lions "D" is feeling generous.