After the NFL upheld Brian Branch’s one-game suspension, the Detroit Lions are turning their focus to compensating for his absence while preparing for Monday night’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Despite JuJu Smith-Schuster’s provocative blindside hit, Branch recognizes that his reaction was unprofessional and unnecessary. It was a heated mistake by a gifted young player. Even though missed calls against the Kansas City Chiefs remain one of the league’s worst-kept secrets, Branch’s suspension ultimately cost his team when they needed him most. His absence comes at a crucial moment for Detroit.
Before “the slap seen round the NFL,” the Lions already faced immense pressure heading into Tampa Bay. Last season, the Buccaneers were one of only two teams to hand Detroit a regular-season loss. The Lions led 13-6 at halftime, but Tampa Bay rallied to win 20-16. Now sitting atop the NFC at 5-1, with Baker Mayfield emerging as an MVP frontrunner, the Bucs present another formidable challenge.
quarterback’s playing great football right now. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he competes. They’ll grind it out, but they’ve also got explosive options – playmakers everywhere, good line, strong defense. You’ve got to prepare for everything.”
coordinator Kelvin Sheppard) will put together a solid plan, and we’ll be ready to face Tampa Bay.”
Managing A Short-Handed Secondary
Last season’s injury-plagued campaign offered the ultimate model for overcoming adversity. Exactly one year ago, after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a Week 6 injury, fans feared the season was finished. But Detroit answered with a dominant 47-9 win over Dallas.
As injuries piled up, Brad Holmes scoured practice squads, signed free agents, and traded for Za’Darius Smith. The Lions’ coaching staff creatively filled gaps and guided the team to a 15-2 finish.
The “next man up” mantra remains central. When one player goes down, the next must step in. Campbell emphasized how everyone must contribute: “The next guy’s got to step up, fill that role, and the rest of the team has to carry a little more of the load. Between the corners, linebackers, D-line, offense, and special teams – everybody’s got to help out.”
Branch’s suspension deepened an already concerning situation. Detroit’s safety depth was thin, with rookies Dan Jackson and Daniel Thomas on injured reserve. Kerby Joseph has battled injuries all season. When healthy, he’s elite, but playing through pain has hindered him, and he’s questionable for Monday.
When asked about Joseph’s status, Campbell was measured: “We’ll reassess. He tried to push through last week, gave us what he had, but it wasn’t his best game, and he knows that. We’ll have to evaluate.”
Balancing Joseph’s health with the need for strong safety play will be key. If he can’t go, the next options are Erick Hallett and Thomas Harper. Earlier this week, Holmes promoted Jammie Robinson from the practice squad for added depth.
Jammie Robinson
Earning a 74 overall grade at the NFL Combine, the 5’11”, 191-pound Georgia native scored a 79 for production, ranking fourth overall. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described him as a “feisty defender whose success depends on deployment,” adding, “He plays every snap with urgency.” Known for his downhill style and explosive energy, Robinson could also excel on special teams.
A fifth-round pick in 2023 by Carolina, Jammie Robinson has untapped potential. Though he struggled to find a role with the Panthers, Cardinals, and Chiefs, Detroit might be the right fit.
Asked about Robinson, Campbell sounded upbeat: “Brad’s tracked him for a while. To get him now gives us a chance to see what he can do. We like his toughness – aggressive, physical, good on special teams. He’s got nickel-safety flexibility, but we’ll start him at safety and see how it goes.”
Erick Hallett
Another option is Erick Hallett, the 5’11”, 190-pound Pitt standout who recorded 168 tackles (115 solo), 24 pass breakups, eight interceptions, and four forced fumbles in college. A Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, he ranked among the ACC’s best in pass defense and interceptions.
Drafted in the sixth round by Jacksonville in 2023, Hallett spent the season on the practice squad. After being waived, Detroit picked him up. He debuted last week against Kansas City, logging six special teams snaps.
Thomas Harper
At the combine, Zierlein praised Thomas Harper for his physicality and competitiveness. A strong run defender with solid explosiveness, Harper can play both nickel and safety, staying locked onto his coverage assignments.
The 5’10”, 189-pound defender – younger brother of Steelers linebacker Devin Harper – signed with the Chargers as an undrafted rookie in 2024 before being claimed by the Raiders. Last season, he totaled 22 tackles, 0.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and an interception. The Lions claimed him in late August.
Campbell’s assessment was positive: “Harp went in the other day – didn’t get a ton of reps, but what we’ve seen in practice is promising. There’s a lot to like there.”
Reserves With A Chance To Shine
Every backup in the NFL dreams of this scenario – a chance to step up and prove his worth. Opportunities like these can shape careers. While experience is a concern, one of these young players might just seize the moment.
Lions fans can take confidence from last season, when a patchwork roster filled with reserves and free agents powered a 15-2 campaign. If Detroit overcame that adversity once, there’s no reason to doubt they can do it again.
