Daily DLP: Talking Lions Injuries, Timelines With Dr. Liao - Detroit Lions Podcast

Dr. Liao breaks down Lions injuries
The Daily DLP welcomes Dr. Jimmy Liao to the show to talk about the Lions injuries and recoveries. The biggest name is Kerby Joseph, as the safety is dealing with a troublesome knee injury. Dr. Liao breaks down what options the Lions have with the All-Pro, noting that holding him out from the offseason workouts is medically necessary.
Brian Branch’s Achilles and what defense demands
Brian Branch tore his Achilles on December 4, 2025. A comparison was made to another high-profile Achilles tear, San Francisco TE George Kittle, on January 11. The positions are different. Defense is reactive. The secondary lives in backpedals and sudden bursts. That movement is the top mechanism for Achilles injury. It can slow the return for a defensive back compared with an offensive player who can script his steps.
Recent rehab clips showed light treadmill jogging. No hard sprinting. No jumping. No cutting. He is roughly six months out and not ahead of schedule on visible benchmarks. The earlier expectation hovered around midseason. There is no clear evidence to move that up.
Sam LaPorta’s back: progress now, recurrence is the concern
Sam LaPorta appeared at OTAs. He caught passes. He is not full go, but the trend is positive. A herniated disc can flare with accumulated contact. Blocking can hyperextend the back. Last season’s issue was not a single moment. It built over time. There is a good chance he is ready for Week 1. The question is durability over months, not days. Recurrence risk sits in the background and will only be answered by workload.
Depth chart ripple effects: OL Lisfranc, ACL note, and return-game risk
An offensive lineman, Ben Bartch, is recovering from Lisfranc surgery. He has not appeared in the first two weeks of OTAs. Lisfranc injuries live in a small, tricky part of the midfoot. Outcomes can be uncertain, especially for a big body that must anchor and drive. The Lions guaranteed $330,000 on his one-year deal, a sign of confidence at signing, but the absence raises flags until he is on the field.
Kendrick Law suffered an ACL tear. Standard ACL recoveries are reliable. Barring complications, the expectation is a full return for 2026 OTAs.
Safety Dan Jackson has been present in team photos during OTAs. Last year’s leg issue lacked detail, but current participation eases concern.
Kickoff changes have pushed return rates above 70 percent. Depth at returner matters. The play remains risky for the returner, even as it gets safer for blockers and coverage. Recent examples include a neck scare for Kalif Raymond and a fractured ankle for James Houston on a high-speed collision. Minicamp next week will sharpen clarity across the Detroit Lions depth chart.

#detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #injuries #recoverytimeline #kerbyjoseph #brianbranch #samlaporta #georgekittle #lisfranc #benbartch #danjackson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices