Campbell Sets December Return Date for Branch, But Contract Extension May Have to Wait

Brian Branch’s Achilles Recovery Gets the Classic Campbell Reality Check

In recent weeks, we’ve seen clips of Brian Branch working his way back from the Achilles injury he suffered in early December. We’ve also watched other players around the league who tore their Achilles offer up some genuine optimism about their timelines. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who went down just days after Branch, was cleared for 7-on-7s this month. Niners tight end George Kittle is still targeting a Week 1 return despite suffering his injury in the playoffs.

So naturally, someone asked Dan Campbell if there was an outside chance Branch could be ready at some point in training camp. Safe to say, Campbell wasn’t exactly channeling that same energy.

“Uh, I don’t know. I mean, I guess there’s always a chance,” Campbell said.

Then he delivered the kind of reality check that only Campbell can pull off with a straight face. “I’m gonna just go ahead and widen the window so we don’t have to talk about it anymore. Let’s just go ahead and say December and then anything before that is a bonus. That way you don’t have to ask me.”

The PUP List Looms Large

If Branch isn’t ready for training camp, he’ll likely start on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Detroit will then have to make a decision at the start of the season whether to keep him there, which would force him to miss at minimum four games. Campbell said Branch is a candidate for that route, but he did offer some genuine optimism.

“He could be,” Campbell said. “Look, there’s no setbacks with him. That’s what I can tell you. He’s doing a good job, he’s putting in the work, but it’s a little—until we really get closer, I hate to start throwing a timetable on him, but he’s doing well.”

No setbacks. That’s the key phrase here. With Achilles injuries, setbacks can derail everything. The fact that Branch is progressing without any hiccups is about as good as you can ask for at this stage.

Contract Complications

Here’s where things get interesting. Branch is entering a contract year, and Brad Holmes has already expressed interest in giving him an extension. But Campbell made it clear that they may need some reassurance about Branch’s future health before making that investment.

“You always want to know that your guys are healthy and that this is truly healed,” Campbell said. “You’re always going to want to lean that way knowing the investment that would go into that.”

Smart business. Branch is a cornerstone piece of this defense, but an Achilles injury changes the calculus on any long-term deal. Holmes didn’t build this roster by making emotional decisions, and he’s not about to start now.

December feels like forever away, but if Branch comes back healthy and stays healthy, none of this timeline talk will matter. The kid’s got the work ethic and the talent. Now it’s just about letting that Achilles heal the right way.

Think Holmes waits until Branch is fully back before locking him up long-term, or does he roll the dice on an extension this summer? Let me know what you’d do in the comments.