Branch recorded 12 total tackles (10 solo) and a pass defensed in Sunday's 34-17 win over the Bears.
Branch was able to reach at least 10 tackles for the second week in a row and third time overall on the season. The defensive back has split his time between slot cornerback and safety in 2024, compiling 96 total tackles (72 solo), a forced fumble and 14 passes defensed, including four interceptions, over 14 games.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Alex Anzalone: Expected to return for playoffs
Rotowire
Anzalone (forearm) is expected to be available for the Lions for the start of the postseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Anzalone broke his forearm during the Lions' Week 11 win over the Jaguars, which prompted Detroit to place the veteran linebacker on injured reserve Nov. 18. The initial timeline for his return was 6-to-8 weeks, and while it doesn't appear likely that he'll be activated off IR for the Lions' last two games of the regular season, he should be available for Detroit's first playoff game. Jack Campbell will continue to serve as the Lions' starting middle linebacker for as long as Anzalone is sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Kwon Alexander: Healthy scratch for Week 16
Rotowire
Alexander (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Chicago.
Alexander played 28 defensive snaps across the Lions' last two games and logged four tackles (one solo) over that span. However, he will observe Sunday's game from the sidelines due to Trevor Nowaske (concussion) returning from a one-game absence. Alexander's next opportunity to play will be Week 17 against the 49ers on Monday, Dec. 30.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Making regular-season debut Sunday
Rotowire
Melifonwu (hand) is active for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Melifonwu was sidelined for the Lions' first 14 regular-season games due to ankle and hand injuries, but the 25-year-old safety will make his 2024 debut Sunday and provide depth at safety behind starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Across 17 regular-season games in 2023, Melifonwu logged 33 tackles (24 solo), including 3.0 sacks, eight pass defenses (including two interceptions) and one forced fumble.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Brian Branch: Good to go against Chicago
Rotowire
Branch (calf) is active for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Branch opened the week as a DNP on Wednesday due to a calf injury he likely picked up during the Lions' Week 15 loss to the Bills. He was able to log consecutive limited practices to end the week and has progressed enough in his recovery to play in Sunday's NFC North showdown. Branch has played every single defensive snap in three of the Lions' last five games, and over that span he has registered 34 tackles (24 solo) and one pass defense.
... See More... See Less
David Bada: Cut with injury settlement
Rotowire
The Lions waived Bada (Achilles) with an injury settlement Saturday.
Bada had been on the Lions' injured reserve list after he was injured in the preseason opener over the summer. He appeared in two games for the Commanders back in 2022 but has yet to play in a regular-season contest since.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Back from IR, still questionable
Rotowire
Melifonwu (hand) was activated from injured reserve Saturday.
Melifonwu is back on Detroit's active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears, but he's still listed as questionable on the injury report. If cleared for action, Melifonwu will provide valuable safety depth for the banged-up Lions defense.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Jalen Reeves-Maybin: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Reeves-Maybin (neck) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears.
Reeves-Maybin was designated to return from injured reserve Thursday and practiced in a limited capacity; however, it now appears he still isn't ready for in-game action just yet. The Tennessee product will remain on injured reserve, paving the way for David Long to serve as the Lions' top backup middle linebacker in Week 16.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Trevor Nowaske: Past concussion
Rotowire
Nowaske (concussion) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears.
Nowaske practiced in full all week and has passed through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, paving the way for him to return to action in Week 16. Expect Nowaske to serve as a depth piece in the Lions' linebacker corps while also contributing on special teams Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Brian Branch: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Branch (calf) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Branch opened the Lions' week of practice with a DNP, but he's logged two consecutive limited sessions since, so it appears he's trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's divisional contest. The second-year pro from Alabama has impressed this season, recording 84 total tackles and 14 passes defended, including four interceptions, over 13 appearances. If Branch can play through his calf injury in Week 16, he'll start alongside Kerby Joseph as part of Detroit's top safety duo.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Could return in Week 16
Rotowire
Melifonwu (hand) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Melifonwu was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday and practiced in full all week, suggesting he could play for the first time this season in Sunday's divisional matchup. However, the Syracuse product must still be added to the active roster in order to suit up in Week 16. If Melifonwu is activated in time, he's expected to serve as Detroit's top reserve safety.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Carlton Davis: Return this season looking bleak
Rotowire
Head coach Dan Campbell said he's not feeling good about the chance of Davis (jaw) returning this season, including for the playoffs, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
Davis was placed on injured reserve this past Tuesday after fracturing his jaw in this past weekend's loss to the Bills. Though the veteran cornerback's surgery timeline originally left open the chance of a return for a possible NFC Championship Game, he's now likely to be done for any further games Detroit plays, including the playoffs. Davis logged 56 tackles (42 solo), 11 passes defended (including two interceptions) and one forced fumble across 13 games this year.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Brian Branch: Returns to practice Thursday
Rotowire
Branch (calf) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Branch didn't practice Wednesday, but he was able to participate in a limited fashion Thursday. That bodes well for his chance of suiting up Sunday versus Chicago, though the second-year safety could still head into the weekend with an injury designation, especially if he doesn't log a full practice Friday. Branch is coming off a big game Week 15 against Buffalo, as he logged a career-high 14 tackles in a six-point loss.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Logs full practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Melifonwu (hand) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
On the same day he was designated to return from injured reserve, Melifonwu started out strong with a full practice in the Lions' first official practice of the week Wednesday. He's been sidelined for the entire regular season due to ankle and hand injuries, but if he's able to practice in full over the next two days, he would be on track to make his 2024 regular-season debut against the Bears on Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Brian Branch: Nursing calf injury
Rotowire
Branch (calf) was listed as a DNP on Wednesday's practice report.
Branch logged a career-high 15 total tackles and played in every defensive snap during the Lions' 48-42 loss to the Bills this past Sunday. However, it appears the second-year safety picked up a calf injury in the process and was sidelined for Detroit's first official practice of the week. Branch will have two more chances to practice this week ahead of Sunday's NFC North clash against the Bears. He's logged 85 tackles (62 solo), 14 pass defenses (including four interceptions) and one forced fumble across 13 regular-season games.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Designated to return
Rotowire
Melifonwu (undisclosed) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The Syracuse product has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury and an undisclosed issue. However, his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, suggesting he's nearing a return to the field. If Melifonwu is activated to Detroit's active roster in time for the Week 16 matchup against the Bears, he could serve as the team's top reserve safety. If not, Brandon Joseph is likely to occupy that role.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Aidan Hutchinson: Still aiming to return for Super Bowl
Rotowire
Hutchinson (tibia/fibula) said Tuesday in an appearance on "The Squeeze" podcast that he's continuing to eye a return to the field in the Super Bowl, should the Lions advance that far in the postseason. "I'm at that mark and I'm on track for my goal of returning for the Super Bowl," Hutchinson said. "I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the facility, I'm like, 'You guys just got to get there and I promise you I'm going to be back.'"
Before fracturing his tibia and fibula in a Week 6 win at Dallas and undergoing surgery Oct. 13, Hutchinson looked like the frontrunner for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award through the Lions' first five games of the season, as he recorded 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble during that stretch. The Lions have since suffered more personnel losses on defense that have tested the team's depth, but if Detroit is able to persevere and build further on last season's NFC Championship Game appearance, the team could get some major reinforcement in the Super Bowl in Hutchinson. The star defensive end has seemingly navigated his rehab program from surgery without any setbacks thus far, but he'll still likely need to get back on the practice field by mid-to-late January to have a chance at contributing in the Super Bowl, if the Lions are able to advance that far without him.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Ben Niemann: Steps into more substantial role
Rotowire
Niemann recorded five total tackles (two solo) and a pass defensed in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills.
Niemann played a season-high 43 defensive snaps in Week 15 with Trevor Nowaske (concussion) unavailable, amongst others. The five tackles were Niemann's highest total of the year, and with the amount of injuries Detroit is dealing with, he'll likely operate in a similar role in Week 16 against the Bears.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Khalil Dorsey: Placed on injured reserve
Rotowire
The Lions placed Dorsey (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Dorsey suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the second quarter of Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills. With Carlton Davis (jaw) also on IR, Kindle Vildor is slated to start at outside cornerback opposite Terrion Arnold.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Carlton Davis: Goes on injured reserve
Rotowire
Detroit placed Davis (jaw) on injured reserve Tuesday.
As expected, Davis will go on injured reserve after fracturing his jaw during Sunday's 48-42 loss to Buffalo. The 2018 second-round pick is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks once he undergoes surgery to address the injury, which opens the door for him to return for the NFC Championship Game if the Lions make it that far in the playoffs. With Davis and Khalil Dorsey (ankle) on IR, Kindle Vildor is expected to step into the second starting outside corner role opposite Terrion Arnold.
