The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions are set to face off for the first time this year in Week 7. While much of the attention has centered on Josh Jacobs' return for Green Bay, the Lions will also get a couple of high-level players back for a big divisional matchup.
Two weeks ago, the Lions opened the 21-day practice windows for Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays ahead of their bye. Now, they're ready to welcome both back into the mix and will likely slot both players into the starting lineup immediately.
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell has all but confirmed that reinforcements are on the way. He's preparing to have Branch and Mays for the pivotal NFC North showdown against the Packers.
"Barring anything negatively happening between now and the game, we plan on playing both of [Branch and Mays]," Campbell told reporters on Oct. 19.
Packers face an even stiffer test as Lions get Brian Branch, Cade Mays back
This is huge news for the Packers in the worst way. It's not exactly a hot take to say Branch has been one of the NFL's premier safeties since he was drafted in 2023 and has been a huge part of the Lions' defense. Without him, their secondary has been rough, giving up the most passing yards in the league through the first six weeks of the season.
Offensively, plugging Mays in is a huge boost to the Lions' game plan. Superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs was already one of the league's most dangerous playmakers, but he'll now benefit from running behind an even better center than he has been the first six weeks of the season. Their already stout pass protection should get a bump, too, something the Packers' surging defense will have to account for.
Mays will take back his spot as starting center, relegating veteran Juice Scruggs to a reserve role. The latter has filled in admirably in the former's absence, but Campbell and the Lions prefer to "rip [the] band-aid off" (h/t Jim Costa of 97.1 The Ticket). A rotation when both players are healthy was previously mentioned, though that has since been nipped in the bud.
Branch has been away from the field for almost a full year after tearing his Achilles in Week 14 of last season. He underwent surgery in December and has been rehabbing the injury ever since. Mays suffered a wrist injury during the Lions' training camp this summer and was placed on injured reserve.
A battle of two divisional heavyweights will be a true litmus test for both sides. Green Bay's offense, particularly its passing attack, has been performing very well lately and will now get a proper challenge against one of football's best defensive backs (and one that's had a lot of success against them). On the flip side, the Packers' defense, which has also been humming, now has another high-level contributor to focus on, making this matchup all the more exciting.
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