KANSAS CITY, MO — The Detroit Lions will have both their starting safeties in the lineup for tonight’s showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are active for the Lions are missing practice time with injuries this week. Joseph did not practice at all because of a knee injury that has nagged him since the Lions’ Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns, and Branch was limited Wednesday and Thursday and did not practice Friday because of a foot injury.
Joseph played through his injury last week, while Lions coach Dan Campbell said he expected Branch to play after the third-year safety went for an MRI on his foot Thursday.
The Lions are down both starting cornerbacks, with D.J. Reed (hamstring) on injured reserve and Terrion Arnold (shoulder) inactive, and backup safety/slot cornerback Avonte Maddox is inactive with a hamstring injury he suffered midweek.
Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin are expected to start at cornerback.
Left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder), linebacker Zach Cunningham (hamstring), running back Sione Vaki (groin), safety Loren Strickland and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo also are inactive for the Lions (4-1).
The Chiefs (2-3) ruled starting left tackle Josh Simmons out Sunday for personal reasons.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions injury report: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph will play vs Kansas City Chiefs
Reporting by Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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