Lions Unlikely To Extend S Brian Branch In Offseason
Already extending a handful of players drafted under GM Brad Holmes, the Lions have another glut of key starters approaching extension-eligible status. Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch will be up for new deals in January.
LaPorta and Branch, because they were drafted in the second round, will be in contract years; the Lions can move former first-rounders Gibbs and Campbell’s contracts through 2027 via the fifth-year option. Our Adam La Rose covered this rich man’s problem in a recent mailbag, but Branch’s Achilles tear occurred soon after. That offers a complication for Detroit.
Branch going down brings unfortunate timing, but he does have one more season on his rookie contract. That gives him time to build up and show top form once again. But any plans for a near-top-market extension coming before next season likely ended when the tear was confirmed.
The Lions should not be expected to extend Branch during the 2026 offseason, the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett notes. Instead, the team will likely make the standout safety show he has returned to form before making the decision to pay him.
Detroit has experience proceeding down this road, extending Aidan Hutchinson this season after he showed dominant form once again. Though, the Lions were interested in paying Hutchinson before Week 1; the Micah Parsons Packers contract brought a delay. Detroit also extended Alim McNeill in-season, showing an openness to completing big-ticket deals outside of the offseason. Branch would make sense for such a move, provided he recovers from the Achilles injury.
The Lions introduced a complication with Branch by giving Kerby Joseph a then-safety-record extension in April. Joseph was in a contract year at the time, but rather than risk the situation leading to a franchise tag (with a Branch payday in mind for 2026) or a free agency exit, the Lions paid up via a four-year, $85MM accord. Joseph, however, has run into a knee injury that has kept him off the field since Week 6. While Joseph has vowed to come back before season’s end, he has not returned to practice as of Wednesday. Joseph is not on IR, a shutdown could commence. That clouds the Lions’ safety situation.
Branch’s injury stings a secondary that also lost Terrion Arnold for the season, and it could conceivably impact how Detroit proceeds with its 2023 draftees. Gibbs is a priority, while LaPorta — also out for the year — may well take precedence over Campbell. The latter should be considered unlikely to have his fifth-year option exercised; no team has picked up an off-ball linebacker’s option since the Buccaneers exercised Devin White‘s in 2022. All linebackers being grouped together under the franchise tag and option formulas makes tagging them or exercising options tricky. The Packers passed on Quay Walker‘s option for this reason. This will accelerate Campbell’s clock if/when the Lions pass on his 2027 guarantee.
Branch, 24, earned a Pro Bowl nod last year; Pro Football Focus slots him ninth among safeties this season. Showing quality form post-surgery next year would open the door to the Alabama alum pushing to eclipse Joseph’s $21.25MM AAV to bridge the gap closer to two-time All-Pro Kyle Hamilton — whom the Ravens gave a market-shifting $25.1MM per year. A resolution on this matter may be tabled until at least next fall. The Lions have exclusive negotiating rights with Branch until March 2027.
Elsewhere on the Lions’ roster, Dan Campbell said (via Birkett) he hopes left guard starter Christian Mahogany can return from IR in Week 16. Mahogany has missed the past six games with a knee injury. The Lions designated him for return last week. The first-year starter’s IR-return clock will not expire until December 31, but with the Lions at 8-6 and stationed on the “in the hunt” line in playoff graphics, time is running out for a third straight playoff berth.
Lions Open G Christian Mahogany’s Practice Window
Left guards are beginning to dominate our late-afternoon coverage window. In addition to Broncos LG Ben Powers returning to practice amid a lengthy IR stay, the Lions will see their starting option do the same.
Christian Mahogany is back at practice, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting the first-year starter is in the IR-return window. Like Powers in Denver, Detroit will have three weeks to activate Mahogany or lose him to season-ending IR.
Unlike Powers, Mahogany has only missed five games. The second-year blocker started the first eight Lions contests before going down with a knee injury. This will certainly be welcome news for a Detroit team in the thick of the wild-card race — and one that just saw Frank Ragnow‘s comeback attempt fall by the wayside.
Detroit has used Kayode Awosika, who has been with the team as a backup since 2022, as Mahogany’s replacement. Mahogany resided as a backup last season, with the Lions rostering Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler. Prior to Ragnow’s retirement, Zeitler defected to the Titans in free agency. Pro Football Focus has graded Mahogany fairly well in his first real go-round as a starter, ranking him 31st among guards this season. PFF slots Awosika 47th, which is still passable since 80 guards qualify as regulars this season.
This is not exactly good news on the level of Ragnow’s surprise unretirement, but after a hamstring injury surfaced during his physical, no such effort will take place this season. That scenario would have given the Lions an option of sliding center Graham Glasgow to guard, where he has extensive experience. Now, Glasgow will stay put as Mahogany readies to return.
The Lions also claimed defensive back Jalen Mills off waivers from the Texans, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. To make room on the 53-man roster, Detroit waived tight end Hayden Rucci. A 92-game starter during a career that has included extensive time at both safety and cornerback, Mills has played in four games (starting one) this season. Houston waived him Tuesday.
Mills, 31, has not played regularly at corner since 2022. Making a successful transition to safety, Mills has still seen regular time in the slot over the past three seasons — spent with the Patriots, Jets and Texans. Houston signed Mills to a one-year, $1.26MM deal; Detroit will be responsible for just less than $300K.
This comes after Brian Branch suffered an Achilles tear in Week 14; the standout defender already underwent surgery. Kerby Joseph has not played since Week 6, leaving the Lions in a tough spot. They are also down Terrion Arnold for the season. Joseph is aiming to return before season’s end.
Lions Rumors: St. Brown, Mahogany, Joseph
After a crushing loss to the NFC North rival Packers on Thanksgiving, the Lions are 7-5 and sitting outside of the playoff bracket with five games left in their season. This Thursday’s matchup against the 6-5-1 Cowboys will take on a postseason feel for a pair of teams that can’t afford many more slip-ups (if any).
The Lions may face an uphill climb this week if they go without No. 1 wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who suffered a low ankle sprain against the Packers. It seemed likely St. Brown would miss some time when he sustained the injury. However, head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday that he has not ruled St. Brown out for Week 14, per Dave Birkett and Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press.
While St. Brown may play, fellow receiver Kalif Raymond is likely to miss his second game in a row with an ankle injury. That leaves Jameson Williams, rookie third-rounder Isaac TeSlaa, and Tom Kennedy as their top healthy options at the position.
The Lions’ injury issues at receiver are especially unfortunate after standout tight end Sam LaPorta underwent back surgery in November. LaPorta is unlikely to return this season, and backup Brock Wright could also miss significant time as a result of an injury to his trachea, Campbell revealed (via Birkett).
Wright isn’t much of a receiving threat, having averaged fewer than 20 catches per season since entering the league in 2021. He has amassed 401 offensive snaps this year, though, and a lengthy absence would leave the Lions perilously thin at tight end. Ross Dwelley and Anthony Firkser are next on the depth chart.
In better news for Detroit’s offense, left guard Christian Mahogany said he fully expects to return during the regular season after going down with a knee injury in Week 9. After mostly working as a backup in 2024, his rookie year, Mahogany started in his first eight appearances this season. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance a solid 30th among 79 qualifying guards. With Mahogany on IR, reserve Kayode Awosika has temporarily taken on a starting role.
Defensively, the Lions have been without key cog Kerby Joseph since Week 6. A nagging knee injury will keep the 2024 first-team All-Pro safety out of his seventh straight game on Thursday, though it’s not a “career-altering” issue, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. Joseph intends to play again this season, but it’s unclear when that will happen.
Thomas Harper, claimed from the Raiders in late August, has been filling for Joseph alongside Brian Branch. Harper has recorded 26 tackles, four passes defensed, and an interception in nine games. The 25-year-old has impressed PFF, which places him 24th among 93 qualifying safeties.
The banged-up Lions lost another member of their secondary when they put starting cornerback Terrion Arnold on IR on Monday. Arnold will undergo surgery on his shoulder. He first hurt his shoulder back in early October, and Campbell confirmed the same injury continued bothering him (via Eric Woodyard of ESPN). That led Detroit to shut Arnold down for good.
Lions G Christian Mahogany Suffers Knee Injury
NOVEMBER 9: Awosika will indeed get the first chance to replace Mahogany at left guard, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. However, Campbell did say he would consider moving Glasgow to LG and installing Trystan Colon at center.
NOVEMBER 2: The Lions got some bad news coming out of their Week 9 loss to the Vikings.
After getting carted off the field, starting left guard Christian Mahogany was seen in the postgame locker room on crutches. Head coach Dan Campbell told the media after the game that Mahogany would miss significant time with a knee injury.
“Mahogany is going to be out for a while,” Campbell told reporters. “Long time, probably.”
The 2024 sixth-rounder started the Lions’ first eight games of the season and played every snap until he left Sunday’s game. Out of 78 offensive guards with at least 150 snaps, Mahogany ranks 46th in pass-blocking effieciency (96.8), 37th in pressures allowed (12), and 20th in overall grade (68.3), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Mahogany’s injury will force another change to the interior of the Lions offensive line after their offseason overhaul. Longtime center Frank Ragnow retired and veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler left in free agency. Graham Glasgow shifted from left guard to center, rookie Tate Ratledge took over at right guard, and Mahogany won the left guard job after starting only one game as a rookie.
The 25-year-old was replaced by five-year veteran Kayode Awosika on Sunday. He may retain the job going forward, but the Lions could also make a last-minute entry into the guard market before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
NFL Minor Transactions: 11/5/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Josiah Deguara
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Ta’Quon Graham
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: OL Christian Mahogany
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return from IR: DT Da’Shawn Hand
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: RB Ronnie Rivers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Lions’ practice squad: DE Andre Carter II
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: RB Audric Estime
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: S Dean Clark
- Placed on IR: S Andre Cisco (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: DT Brodric Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Seahawks): S Jerrick Reed
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: WR Treylon Burks, DT Sheldon Day
NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Kelly, Pack
Prior to the Bears agreeing to re-sign Travis Homer, they considered a veteran with ties to Ryan Poles and new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. Chicago considered Kareem Hunt in free agency, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Poles and Bieniemy were with the Chiefs when they drafted Hunt in the 2017 third round, with the current Bears GM serving as Kansas City’s college scouting director at that point. Hunt won a rushing title as a rookie and was off to a better start in 2018, when a video of him kicking a woman led to his initial Kansas City ouster. The Chiefs circled back to Hunt six years later, after an Isiah Pacheco injury, and have since re-signed him. The Bears still have Homer and Roschon Johnson behind starter D’Andre Swift, who joins Jonah Jackson in reuniting with Ben Johnson.
Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- On the subject of Jackson, he is set to play right guard next season, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs. Jackson started four seasons at left guard in Detroit, but he will end up deferring to Joe Thuney, who landed as the All-Pro first team’s left guard in back-to-back seasons. The older of the Bears’ two guard trade pickups is in a contract year, Thuney gave no clues about a potential extension (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin). Keeping with the reunion theme, Thuney signed with the Chiefs when Poles was still on Brett Veach‘s staff.
- Losing durable veteran Kevin Zeitler to the Titans, the Lions appear in need at guard. Graham Glasgow remains, but the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett expects the team to add another starter-level option at the position. This could come in free agency or the draft. A few free agency options are available. Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner, Cody Whitehair, Will Hernandez and Andrus Peat are among the top veteran options. Teven Jenkins is the leader in this clubhouse right now, and it will be interesting to see where the three-year Bears starter lands. Early in free agency, Jenkins had set a high price. Christian Mahogany, a 2024 sixth-round pick, looks to be in position to still compete for the job Zeitler held last season, Birkett adds.
- The Vikings paid a high price for Will Fries but landed ex-Colts center Ryan Kelly on a mid-market deal. Kelly agreed to a two-year, $18MM contract that comes with $9.15MM guaranteed. No part of Kelly’s $7.89MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes, giving Minnesota some flexibility on the soon-to-be 32-year-old center. The Vikings would carry no dead money if they cut Kelly next year. Elsewhere on Minnesota’s cap sheet, DB Tavierre Thomas‘ deal comes in at one year and $2MM, Wilson adds. The former Browns, Texans and Buccaneers defender commanded a $1MM guarantee.
- Marcus Davenport‘s second shot at becoming a regular Lions contributor will include a pay cut. Reported as signing a deal worth up to $4.75MM, Davenport will be tied to $2.5MM in base value, via OverTheCap. Of that total, $1.65MM is guaranteed. The Lions are guaranteeing Davenport’s $1.35MM base salary, per Wilson, which would leave them with a near-$2MM dead money hit if they moved on. Davenport has missed 28 games over the past two seasons. Roy Lopez‘s “up to” report checked in at $4.75MM; the actual value of the Lions DT’s contract (via Wilson): $3.5MM.
- The Lions also brought in former Bills tight end Quintin Morris on a free agency visit this week, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes. Buffalo did not tender Morris as an RFA, passing on a $3.26MM price to retain its primary blocking tight end. The Lions matched a 49ers RFA offer sheet for Brock Wright last year; two years remain on Wright’s deal. Morris, 26, played 214 offensive snaps for the Bills last season.
- Isaiah McDuffie‘s two-year, $8MM Packers pact does not bring any 2026 guarantees, though ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky indicates it carries a $750K roster bonus next year. Guaranteeing the 2024 linebacker starter $2.25MM, the Packers can move on for barely $1MM in dead money after the 2025 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/24
Here are the latest transactions from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: RB Darrynton Evans
Carolina Panthers
- Released: S Russ Yeast
Chicago Bears
- Placed on injured reserve: OL Bill Murray
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: WR Jaelon Darden
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Tony Brown
Detroit Lions
- Activated from Non-Football Injury list: OL Christian Mahogany
Houston Texans
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Stefon Diggs
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: RB Myles Gaskin
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: LB Ochaun Mathis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji
- Reinstated from Reserve/Suspended list: CB Cameron Sutton
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: WR Mason Kinsey
Murray suffered a torn pectoral in the Bears’ loss to the Commanders on Sunday, thinning out Chicago’s offensive line depth. He played 37 snaps at left guard in Week 5 in relief of an injured Tevin Jenkins, who left Sunday’s game with another injury. After full participation in practice last week, Larry Borom should be ready to be activated from injured reserve to reinforce the Bears’ offensive line before Week 9.
The Texans officially played Diggs on injured reserve after tests confirmed a season-ending ACL tear, a non-contact injury that occurred in Houston’s Week 8 victory over the Colts. With Nico Collins already on IR, C.J. Stroud will turn to Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz to keep the offense afloat until Collins returns. Diggs’ injury could heavily affect his market in free agency after requiring the Texans to remove the final three years of his contact to facilitate his trade from the Bills.
Sutton is eligible to play for the first time this year after serving an eight-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He was suspended after he was arrested for domestic battery by strangulation in March, leading to his release by the Lions. The Steelers then signed him to a one-year deal in June before the league handed down his suspension in July, forcing Pittsburgh to turn to Beanie Bishop at nickel.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/24
Tuesday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: OL Charlie Heck
- Placed on IR: G Will Hernandez (story)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed (off Giants’ practice squad): OL Cade Mays
- Promoted: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: CB Dax Hill (story), OL Jaxson Kirkland
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: G Javion Cohen, DT Sam Kamara, TE Blake Whiteheart
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: DE Carl Lawson
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: OL Christian Mahogany
Houston Texans
- Signed (off Ravens’ practice squad): CB Ka’dar Hollman
- Placed on IR: RB British Brooks
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: CB David Long
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
- Released: TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Released: DE Jamree Kromah
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: OL John Ojukwu
Kirkland is out for the season due to a biceps tear, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. That injury resulted in the addition of Andrew Stueber off Atlanta’s practice squad, a move which became official today. Kirkland, a former UDFA, made a pair of appearances this season, seeing sparse usage on offense and special teams.
Lions Get Down To 53 Players
The Lions used a couple of different methods to get their active roster to 53 players:
Released:
- CB Essang Bassey
- WR Daurice Fountain
- CB Javelin Guidry
- LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
- T Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- TE Sean McKeon
- S C.J. Moore
- DL Pat O’Connor
- DL Kyle Peko
- LB Ty Summers
Waived:
- OLB Mitchell Agude
- WR Maurice Alexander
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- DL Mathieu Betts
- G Jake Burton
- WR Jalon Calhoun
- OL Duke Clemens
- LS Scott Daly
- WR Kaden Davis
- C Kingsley Eguakun
- QB Jake Fromm
- RB Jake Funk
- S Chelen Garnes
- CB Steven Gilmore
- C Bryan Hudson
- RB Jermar Jefferson
- RB Zonovan Knight
- TE James Mitchell
- DL Chris Smith
- DL Isaac Ukwu
- CB Rachad Wildgoose
- TE Shane Zylstra
Waived/injured:
- DL David Bada
Placed on IR (designated for return):
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
The Lions released a lot more vested veterans than we typically see at this time in the year, perhaps a sign of the young talent on the roster. Peko seemed like a sure thing to make the roster after starting 10 games for the Titans in 2023.
Detroit will dismiss a couple of young rushers in Jefferson and Knight after the two failed to develop a significant role on the roster. Fromm was easily outshined in the preseason by an electric Hendon Hooker, who will take the backup job behind Jared Goff. Fromm continues to search for his place in the NFL after nearly winning it all at the collegiate level.
Martin, like Mahogany, will be able to return after four weeks, thanks to a new NFL rule that allows each team to place two players on IR before or at the roster cut deadline and designate them to return. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has the other designation.
Mahogany is the only drafted rookie not to make the initial 53, but he’ll stick around in Detroit. On the other side of things, the Lions kept three undrafted rookie signees on their active roster to start the season. Most notably Hogan Hatten will come in and operate as the team’s new long snapper. Safety Loren Strickland from Ball State and wide receiver Isaiah Williams from Illinois are the other two undrafted rookies to make the initial roster.
Lions To Place CB Emmanuel Moseley On IR
Emmanuel Moseley sustained a major injury in a third straight year. The veteran cornerback, who suffered ACL tears in 2022 and ’23, went down with a torn pectoral muscle early in Lions training camp. But his season is not yet over.
The Lions look to be planning to try out the NFL’s new IR wrinkle. They are placing Moseley on IR, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who adds this transaction is aimed at the injury-prone cover man being eligible to return later this year. This would mean Detroit is planning to make Moseley an IR-return player, which the league is now allowing before roster-cutdown day.
[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Detroit Lions]
In prior years, a team placing a player on IR before setting its initial 53-man roster meant that player was out of the picture for the season. IR-return players had needed to be carried through to 53-man rosters before being placed on IR. The league is now allowing teams to move up to two players to IR before the season. If the Lions designate Moseley an IR-return player immediately, he will count toward the team’s eight-activation limit whether he returns this season or not.
Detroit saw C.J. Gardner-Johnson return from a torn pec last year. Gardner-Johnson went down in Week 2 and made it back off IR by Week 18. That said, Moseley missed almost all of last season and has two major knee surgeries on his NFL medical sheet. It would then be interesting to see the Lions use one of their IR activations on him so early, but the team has shown some faith in the former 49ers starter by signing him in back-to-back offseasons.
The Lions did, however, made significant adjustments at corner this offseason. They traded for Carlton Davis, signed Amik Robertson and used first- and second-round picks on Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. The team also re-signed Kindle Vildor, though he is not a lock to make the roster Tuesday. It took CJGJ roughly 3 1/2 months to recover from his pec tear. That timetable would leave make Moseley a candidate to return by late November, though that should not be considered a firm recovery period.
Moseley, 28, played only two defensive snaps last season. Part of the Lions’ 2023 CB overhaul, the 33-game starter was tied to a one-year, $6MM deal at that point. Following his second ACL tear, Moseley still commanded a $1MM guarantee. He is tied to a $2.88MM salary.
The Lions are also planning to move guard Christian Mahogany to the reserve/NFI list, Schefter adds. The Lions drafted Mahogany in the sixth round this year. The Boston College product is dealing with an undisclosed illness. Mahogany would be eligible to return after four games.