Brian Branch couldn't bring himself to watch Detroit's Monday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Bucs live Week 7 while he was away from the team serving a one-game suspension for a postgame incident the week prior in Kansas City.
"I couldn't," Branch admitted Tuesday.
With the suspension now served, Branch is back at the Meijer Performance Center and extra motivated to make his presence felt at Ford Field Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
"I think you'll get an even more motivated Brian Branch," Lions defensive assistant and safeties coach Jim O'Neil said Tuesday. "So, I'm really excited to see how he takes the field on Sunday. It's great to have him back. He's one of my all-time favorite people and all-time favorite players I ever coached. I love his competitive spirit. I'm excited to get him back out there.
"It's scary. Scary because he's clearly one of the best players at his position in the league."
Branch is arguably Detroit's most versatile defender and one of their stars on that side of the football. He's totaled 33 tackles (23 solo), four tackles for loss, five passes defended, a sack and a forced fumble so far this season.
He's a huge component to what the Lions do defensively with his ability to play deep safety, in the box, blitz and play the nickel. The Lions are certainly excited to get him back this week.
"A lot of motivation," Branch said of playing Sunday and playing well. "It's another chip on my shoulder they just added. I do want to apologize for what I did, that's something I don't condone, and will never happen again, but (the suspension) definitely added another chip to my shoulder."
RISERS AND FALLERS
Detroit currently sits at the No. 5 seed in a very tight playoff picture in the NFC. There are nine teams in the NFC with a .500 record or better. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this is a critical month where teams usually start to separate themselves from the pack. Detroit has five games in November vs. Minnesota (3-4), at Washington (3-5), at Philadelphia (6-2), vs. New York Giants (2-6) and vs. NFC North leading Green Bay (5-1-1).
"I mentioned to the team yesterday, I just kind of put up where everything is stacking in the NFC right now. It's very competitive, especially at this point in the season for one conference," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday.
"But all I stated was, 'Hey, this is where we're at, this is where these teams are at, and this thing's about to shake out within the month of November.' You're going to start seeing the risers and fallers, and a lot of these teams are playing each other. We're one of them.
"So, it really is just handle your business, man. And the bottom line is, find a way to win your division. And we've got Minnesota coming in here, that's number one. And then you worry about the next one after that."
EXTRA POINTS
- Second-year running back Sione Vaki was back on the practice field Tuesday after missing the last four games with a groin injury. Campbell said the plan is for Vaki to practice all week with the hope of him being available for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
- Campbell did not have a specific injury update on edge rusher Marcus Davenport, who is on IR with a chest injury, but he does still expect Davenport to return at some point this season.
- It was good to see cornerback D.J. Reed running and working with trainers off to the side of practice Tuesday. He's been battling a hamstring injury and is eligible to return Week 10 off injured reserve.
