For the second straight year, the Detroit Lions are being ravaged by injuries—particularly on defense. In 2024, they managed to survive a similar wave of attrition, but the damage in 2025 has reached a point where Kelvin Sheppard’s unit is struggling to hold things together.

The defensive backfield has been hit the hardest. Before Week 1 even kicked off, both second-year corner Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and rookie safety Dan Jackson were placed on IR. Earlier this week, emerging star corner Terrion Arnold joined them. Veteran safety Kerby Joseph has been sidelined since Week 6, and during Thursday night’s game against the Cowboys, Thomas Harper exited early with a concussion. As if that wasn’t enough, the Lions announced Friday that Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles, ending his season.

Detroit’s Most Logical Response: Sign Justin Simmons

Branch’s loss leaves a massive void. His versatility and consistency were essentially the connective tissue of an already thin secondary. Losing him feels less like a setback and more like reopening a wound that had barely begun to close.

That puts general manager Brad Holmes in a tough position. Impact defenders rarely sit on the open market this late in the year—but Detroit may be fortunate. Branch’s injury makes the next move almost too obvious: sign veteran safety Justin Simmons.

Why Simmons remains unsigned is still puzzling. The nine-year vet played solid football for the Falcons last season and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors with Denver as recently as 2023—his fourth time receiving that recognition. He isn’t the dynamic hybrid Branch is, but he hasn’t suddenly become ineffective either.

Simmons can still line up at free safety, slide into the slot, or play closer to the box when needed. Even at 32, his experience and football IQ give him value that few remaining free agents can match.

No one expects a mid-season signing to step in and dominate right away, especially on a contender. But given the Lions’ situation, Simmons represents the most reliable, realistic option available.

Detroit doesn’t have the luxury of waiting, not with its playoff hopes in a tight race. Simmons wouldn’t cost much to bring in, and he could provide just enough stability on the back end to keep the defense afloat while the offense tries to secure the team’s postseason path.