In the midst of an otherwise outstanding game from a Detroit point of view, the Lions suffered an unfortunate injury. Rookie defensive back Brian Branch left the Week 4 game in Green Bay on Thursday night with an ankle injury.
Branch was taken by a cart to the locker room after needing assistance to leave the field. He appeared to roll his right ankle when being engaged in a block in the third quarter. After staying on the ground for several minutes, Branch got on the cart and into the X-ray room.
The Lions initially ruled his return as questionable. He was replaced in the lineup by Will Harris.
Branch then returned to the field in a light jog. He was spotted getting the ankle taped up on the sidelines during the next Packers drive, with a small extra pad on the right front of his right ankle.
Later in the fourth quarter, Branch returned to action.
Brian Branch re enters the field with a trainer under his own power pic.twitter.com/IfoSAGWVJs
— Alec Giannakopoulos (@news8alec) September 29, 2023
Lions DB Brian Branch (ankle) running up and down the sideline without his helmet on by himself. Still getting looked at while testing it out.
— Ben Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) September 29, 2023
It appears all will be okay with Branch. The Lions now get a mini-bye and don’t play again for 10 days, which can only help.