Brian Branch, Cade Mays return to practice for Lions

The Lions are welcoming a pair of players back to practice this week. Safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays will both begin the return to play process. They can be activated at any point in the next 21 days. Branch tore his Achilles last season and has been on the physically unable to perform list since the start of training camp. The Lions struggled defensively in the first four weeks of the season and Branch’s return to the lineup should help improve on the “mediocrity” head coach Dan Campbell has seen so far this season. Mays broke his wrist during training camp. He was slated to be the starter prior to the injury and the Lions have used Juice Scruggs in his place.