Brian Branch injury update: Lions DB reportedly gets alarming diagnosis after leaving Cowboys game

During ‘Thursday Night Football’, Brian Branch exited as yet another injured player for the Lions. And, as of this morning, it looks to be a significant issue too based on the latest on the third-year defensive back for Detroit.

Per sources speaking Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Branch is thought to have suffered an injury to his Achilles. More won’t be known or confirmed until further testing on Friday, but it could be a notable blow nonetheless to Detroit.

“Lions standout DB Brian Branch is feared to have suffered an Achilles injury on Thursday night, sources tell me and @RapSheet,” Pelissero posted this morning. “Branch will have further tests this morning. But another potential blow to a Detroit team coming off a huge win.”

“A potentially significant injury for Brian Branch and another blow to the #Lions secondary,” added Rapoport.

Branch went down in the fourth quarter of the 44-30 win for Detroit (8-5) over Dallas (6-6-1). He was helped off of the field, with reporting after the game being that he was in a boot and on crutches. With his exit, Branch would finish the win with six tackles, a pass deflection, and a quarterback hit for the Lions’ defense.

In his third season in the NFL, Branch has 75 tackles, nine deflections, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble with a recovery for Detroit. That has him among the best on the team in several defensive categories, specifically being second in deflections, third in total tackles, and top-five in sacks and tackles for loss. That also has him on pace with his numbers from his previous two seasons, including last year when he was a Pro Bowler.

However, Branch now looks to be the next name headed to the injury report for the Lions. As noted by Pelissero, Detroit is already down two other names in the secondary with a season-ending injury for Terrion Arnold and a long-term injury now for Kerby Joseph. That’s not to mention other absences for key names, among others, like Sam LaPorta, Kalif Raymond, and Josh Paschal.

With a torn Achilles now since confirmed by his results per Pelissero and Rapoport, this will be another massive loss for the Lions. It’ll also be a long recovery ahead now too in what was a serious injury suffered last night by Branch.