Brian Branch is back. The Lions rookie defensive back returned to practice Thursday after missing the past two games with an ankle injury he suffered in Detroit's Week 4 win over the Packers and confirmed he'll be in the lineup for Sunday's first-place clash with the Ravens.
"I’m feeling good," he said. "I’m back this week, so that’s the exciting news."
And Branch, who said he "felt like I was being lazy sitting out, not being able to help my teammates," intends to return with a literal bang.
Asked about the challenge of defending a mobile quarterback in Lamar Jackson, Branch said, "Just let the front do what they do, and we gotta just plaster our guys when he gets outside that pocket. It's going to be tough if he does get out that pocket. But, shoot, the backend, we just gotta plaster our guys.”
Branch has already earned a reputation as a hard hitter. His physicality and instincts have made him a disruptive force in the Lions' secondary. After having to miss two games, Branch said he's "only even hungrier to get back out there and just prove it to everybody."
Detroit's defense held up fine in Branch's absence, especially last week in a shutdown performance against the Bucs. The 21-year-old said he gained a new perspective watching games while wearing a headset on the sideline to hear the coaches call defensive plays.
"Shoot, felt like I was real-life Madden," said Branch.
Against an offense featuring an MVP quarterback and a slew of talented pass catchers, the Lions will happily welcome Branch back on the field.
"They're a good offense," he said. "We're going to have to keep and contain Lamar in that pocket. They got good receivers over there that I'm going to have to guard on the backend. Everybody do their job, we'll be successful."