The Lions couldn’t have been anything but satisfied with Brian Branch’s start to his NFL career.
It started off with a bang for the No. 45 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He recorded an interception of two-time NFL MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and returned it for a touchdown in Detroit’s season-opening win over the Chiefs.
Additionally, through the first quarter of the season, the first-year defensive back had amassed a 79.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including an 89.1 run defense grade and an 80.3 coverage grade.
The Alabama product’s efforts have slowed down a bit since, though. And, it came to a head Sunday against the Bears, when he played in just 37 of the team’s defensive snaps. It was his lowest total since he logged just 30 snaps in his return from an ankle injury in Week 7 against the Ravens.
In the aforementioned Week 14 loss to the Bears (a game in which Branch produced just three tackles), Branch lined up exclusively at nickel cornerback, after logging snaps at both safety and at slot corner in recent weeks.
It was a premeditated decision from Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Rather than play multiple positions, Branch was designed to play exclusively nickel in order to bank more reps at the specific spot.
Additionally, Glenn did this to cultivate fellow safety Ifeatu Melifonwu playing as many snaps as possible in the secondary in his first start of the season.
Detroit struggled all afternoon long in its outing last week in Chicago. It allowed 336 total yards of offense to Justin Fields and the Bears, marking the fifth straight game in which Glenn’s unit allowed 330-plus yards to an opponent.
Branch and the Lions are aware that they need to clean up things headed into their primetime matchup with Russell Wilson and the Broncos Saturday.
After a rough first season in Denver, Wilson has been much more productive with Sean Payton on the sidelines in 2023.
He completed a career-worst 60.5 percent of his passes and threw for a career-low 16 touchdowns in 2022.
In stark contrast, the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has completed 67.2 of his passes and thrown for 23 touchdowns in 13 games thus far this year. And, he’s thrown 10 of those touchdowns to receiver Courtland Sutton, who’s hauling in a career-best 67.1 percent of his targets.
“It’s kind of been like his old days, being at Seattle. He’s really taken control,” Branch said of Wilson Thursday. “Like I said, they’re going to take their shots, and Sutton comes down with the ball a good percent of the time. It’s going to be a tough task for us.”
Branch & Co. have to also prepare for Denver’s three-headed monster at running back, featuring Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine. Of the trio, Williams leads the way with 650 rushing yards.
“They’re a good, balanced team overall,” Branch expressed. “You know, in the beginning of the season, they had their struggles, but now they’re starting to click on all cylinders. They’re going to take their shots. And, just in each phase of the game, I feel like they do really well.”
One of Denver's top playmakers shares the same alma mater as Detroit's rookie defender. Though Jerry Jeudy and Branch didn't overlap during their time at Alabama, they have familiarity given their common past.
Jeudy has become an integral part of Denver's offense. On the season, he's hauled in 42 passes for 507 yards and one score.
"He's a good route runner," Branch said. "Hands are good, shoot they're starting to trust him more. It's gonna be 'Bama on 'Bama crime this week."
With the Lions’ Week 15 tilt with the Broncos being on Saturday, it’s given Dan Campbell’s team a shorter week to prepare for Payton’s squad. Branch has felt like it’s been a solid week of practice, though, as he and his teammates have focused on getting back to playing a winning brand of football.
“Knowing how aggressive they’re going to be, how him (Payton) and our head coach have history, it’s going to be a fun game. You know, it’s going to be a personal game,” Branch said. “Shoot, we just got to do our job and stay true to our roots and you know, just be us.”
The Lions are on the verge of getting a key player to return to their secondary. C.J. Gardner-Johnson has recovered quickly from his torn pec and could rejoin the Lions as soon as next week.
This addition will be massive, as Gardner-Johnson brings a high level of production and swagger to a struggling Lions' secondary.
“He’s been a great mentor to me. Just teaching me a lot of stuff. Ins and outs of things, just helping me out," Branch explained. "Especially being in my rookie year, he played the same position as me and just being a great mentor.”
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