By Moses Joshua 
With Detroit’s secondary in crisis mode and the playoff race tightening, the Lions’ general manager may have only one realistic move left
The Detroit Lions have spent much of the last two seasons battling through an unforgiving wave of injuries, but the latest blow may be the most difficult yet. As the 2025 campaign barrels toward its final stretch, Detroit’s defensive backfield has reached a breaking point—and the loss of Brian Branch could force Brad Holmes into a decision that now feels unavoidable.
Once again, attrition threatens to derail momentum just as the Lions’ postseason hopes remain within reach.
A Secondary Pushed to the Brink
Detroit’s defensive depth has been eroding for months. Even before the season kicked off, second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and rookie safety Dan Jackson were placed on injured reserve. That was only the beginning.
Young star Terrion Arnold followed them to IR earlier this week, removing yet another building block from the secondary. Veteran safety Kerby Joseph hasn’t seen the field since Week 6 due to a lingering knee issue. During the Thanksgiving Week clash with Dallas, Thomas Harper suffered a concussion, thinning the unit even further.
Then came the hardest blow of all.
Late in the win over the Cowboys, Brian Branch went down with what was later confirmed to be a torn Achilles. The injury not only ended his season—it ripped the heart out of Detroit’s already fragile defensive backfield. With Branch sidelined, the Lions lose their most versatile and indispensable defensive chess piece.
Why Brian Branch’s Loss Changes Everything
Branch wasn’t just another starter—he was the glue holding the secondary together. His ability to play multiple roles at an elite level allowed Detroit to disguise coverages, compensate for injuries, and stay competitive despite constant personnel changes.
Now, that stabilizing force is gone.
With his absence, Detroit no longer has the luxury of shuffling pieces and patching holes internally. The defensive scheme that once relied on Branch’s rare blend of speed, instincts, and physicality now must survive without it. And that reality shifts the pressure squarely onto the front office.
Brad Holmes is once again on the clock—but this time, the margin for error is nearly nonexistent.
The Obvious Answer: Justin Simmons
At this stage of the season, impact defenders rarely remain available. Most veterans with value are already rostered, rehabbing, or carefully waiting out the market. Yet one name continues to stand out as both logical and attainable: Justin Simmons.
The fact that Simmons remains unsigned is one of the quiet mysteries of the NFL landscape. A nine-year veteran, Simmons was still playing quality football as recently as last season with the Falcons. In 2023, he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors with Denver—his fourth such recognition since 2019.
This isn’t a player who has simply fallen off the map.
While Simmons no longer offers the explosive all-around versatility of Branch, he brings something Detroit desperately needs right now: experience, discipline, and reliability. He can function as a true free safety, drop into the slot, or step into the box when needed. That flexibility alone could stabilize a unit currently held together by injured reserve designations and emergency depth.
Risk, Reality, and the Playoff Push
Signing a 32-year-old free agent in December and expecting immediate impact is far from ideal. But ideal options vanished the moment Branch’s Achilles gave way. At this point, Detroit isn’t searching for perfection—they are searching for survival.
The risk is real. Simmons hasn’t been in a midseason system, hasn’t built chemistry with this roster, and wouldn’t arrive in peak football condition. But the alternative—standing pat and hoping a battered secondary holds up through the most demanding stretch of the year—may be even riskier.
The Lions are clinging to the playoff race with no margin for prolonged collapse. Financially, a Simmons signing wouldn’t cripple the cap. Strategically, it could be the only move capable of preventing the defense from unraveling entirely.
The Stakes Have Never Been Clearer
Detroit’s offense has shown it can carry games. But without a functional back end on defense, even the most explosive scoring attacks eventually crack under sustained pressure. The Lions don’t need Simmons to be a superstar—they need him to be steady enough to keep everything from falling apart.
Brian Branch’s injury didn’t just remove a star from the lineup—it exposed how little room for error remains. Brad Holmes now stands at a crossroads: make the obvious move or gamble the season on what’s already proven too fragile to trust.
At this point, the decision feels less like a choice—and more like an inevitability.