Lions safety Brian Branch carted off field after apparent ankle injury vs Packers

Lions rookie Brian Branch didn’t get to leave Lambeau Field on his own terms. The safety was carted off the field in the third quarter of Thursday Night Football.

On a play in the third quarter, Branch fell to the ground after taking a block. He left the game with an apparent ankle injury. Detroit immediately listed him as “questionable to return” for the remainder of the game, per the Amazon Prime broadcast.

The broadcast also mentioned that medical personnel took Branch immediately to get an X-ray on the ankle:

I hope Brian Branch is okay 🙏🙏🙏@Lions

pic.twitter.com/oa5D2MFnnl

— Ethan (@Etrei18) September 29, 2023

Branch was a second-round selection by Detroit in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama. It didn’t take him long to carve out a big role in the Lions’ defense as a rookie.

Shortly after Branch left the game on the cart, he returned to the sideline and was getting his ankle taped up. Hopefully, that’s a sign that the injury wasn’t too serious.

Through his first three games, Branch racked up 18 tackles, including three for loss. He also has a pick-six on the season, snagging that in Week 1 against the Chiefs.

Brian Branch records pick-six off Patrick Mahomes

It didn’t take long for Branch to make a name for himself in the NFL. In the third quarter of the Chiefs-Lions opener, the Detroit defensive back recorded a pick-six off league MVP Patrick Mahomes.

Branch’s pick-six game early in the third quarter with Detroit trailing Kansas City 14-7. The pass was intended for Kadarius Toney, but the ball was tipped up and the former Alabama standout made the play.

The touchdown was (obviously) the first of Branch’s NFL career. It was only the third time Mahomes has thrown a pick-six in his career. Below is the exciting clip from the ex-Alabama star’s first career touchdown in the NFL:

Tip drill! #Lions rookie Brian Branch picks off Patrick Mahomes on a pass intended for Kadarius Toney and takes it back to the house for a Detroit TD.

The Lions have been RAVING about Branch all of camp. pic.twitter.com/lhmhdTUg7A

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2023

Not a bad way to start your NFL career, is it?

Branch appeared in 37 career games while at Alabama from 2020-22. In that time, he piled up 172 tackles, including 19.5 for loss. He was also responsible for 23 pass break-ups, four interceptions and a fumble recovery with the Crimson Tide.

It’s not always easy for a college player to catch his footing in his first year in the NFL. Clearly, Branch has had no trouble making a difference for the Lions in his first season in the league.

If he stays healthy, the former Alabama standout could be in store for a huge season with Detroit.