With a trip opposite Patrick Mahomes on deck, the Detroit Lions are facing the daunting task of defending the All-Pro quarterback with a severely shorthanded set of defensive backs.
Already expected to be without both of their starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed (IR) and Terrion Arnold (shoulder injury), the problems may run much deeper than that with Detroit’s secondary. On Friday, both starting safeties are expected to be sidelined with injuries, per coach Dan Campbell.
Brian Branch has been dealing with with an ankle injury that has kept him limited in practice previously this week. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Branch was scheduled for an MRI this week. Campbell indicated that the news is relatively good, it shouldn’t be a long-term injury, and, in fact, he’s got a good chance to play this week.
“It will come down to how he’s going to feel for this game. But I don’t feel like this is some long-term thing by any means,” Campbell said. “I feel like we’re going to get him to the game. I really do, but we’ll see. I can’t sit here and guarantee it, either.”
It’s a little more uncertain for Kerby Joseph, who leads the team in interceptions. He has now missed the entire week of practice with a knee injury that has been lingering for the entire season.
“Just trying to be smart with them right now, and see where they both go” Campbell said of both safeties. “Neither one of them I don’t think will practice today. So, we’ll have to probably take it to game time here and see where they’re at.”
On top of that, veteran Avonte Maddox, who was in line to be the starting nickel cornerback and also provide safety depth behind the two starters, suffered a hamstring injury this week. Campbell called him a game-time decision.
“He’s another one—probably a game-time decision, if not before that,” Campbell said. “It’s how fast can you recover relative to getting ready to go. Can he make it a full game?”
In the past two weeks, the Lions have added several defensive backs to their practice squad to help overcome the injuries. Last week, they signed safety Loren Strickland to the 53-man roster while adding corners Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad. This week, nickel corner Arthur Maulet was added to the practice squad, too.
While those players don’t exactly have the chemistry and practice reps of the starters, Campbell has made it a point to get them playing time this week, and he believes they’ve gotten enough work to be ready to face the Chiefs.
“We’ll be ready,” Campbell said. “We’ve got answers ready to go. We’ll have a contingency plan. So we’ll be prepared. If those (injured) guys are ready, that’s awesome. If not, that’s still awesome. We’ll play accordingly.”
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