Lions Stash Branch, Joseph, and Mays on Reserve Lists for First Month

The Detroit Lions' secondary just got officially put on ice for the first month of the season.

Detroit placed star safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the reserve/PUP list, while center Cade Mays is heading to injured reserve with a return designation. According to Tom Pelissero, all three are guaranteed to miss at least the first four games of the year.

"Tom Pelissero reported the roster moves, confirming the four-game minimum absence for all three players."

Branch is still working his way back from a December Achilles tear, and Joseph is dealing with a nagging knee issue that cost him 11 games last season. When healthy, these two are arguably the best safety tandem in the league, combining for seven interceptions a couple of years ago.

Trying to stop modern NFL passing attacks without your two best deep-field erasers is like trying to bail out a sinking boat with a pasta strainer. It is going to get ugly, and opposing quarterbacks are absolutely going to test whatever backup plan Detroit rolls out in September.

On the offensive side, Mays is recovering from an early August wrist fracture that came with an eight-to-ten-week timeline. The Lions just handed him a three-year, $25 million deal in free agency, so putting him on ice until October is just basic asset protection.

If you are looking at early-season totals or player props against Detroit, the absence of Branch and Joseph is a massive flashing green light for opposing wide receivers. The Lions' defense is going to have to rely heavily on the pass rush getting home before the secondary gets exposed.

Detroit will have to survive the first month of the schedule shorthanded. If they can tread water until October, getting a fully healthy Branch and Joseph back could feel like a midseason trade acquisition, but until then, buckle up for some shootouts.