Lions add three players to the PUP list ahead of trading camp starting Wednesday
The Lions have added three players to the PUP list, including Kerby Joseph. Why the annual freakout on this list shouldn’t be had.
The Detroit Lions open training camp on Wednesday, but three players won’t be joining their teammates on the field right away. Detroit announced its physically unable to perform list, and the names on it are safety Brian Branch, tight end Tyler Conklin, and safety Kerby Joseph. The Lions PUP list was expected to include Branch, but Joseph’s inclusion is a surprise after the safety posted on social media that he wouldn’t be on it.
One thing that’s worth remembering before everybody starts panicking over the PUP list is that it’s not some season-ending death sentence. Teams use the Physically Unable to Perform list at the start of training camp for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes a guy is coming back from an injury and just isn’t quite ready yet. Sometimes the team simply wants to ease him in. And yes, sometimes a player winds up on the PUP list because he didn’t pass the initial conditioning test when camp opened. The important thing is that players placed on the active/PUP list before the season can come off it whenever they’re healthy and ready to practice. We’ve seen plenty of guys start camp on PUP and be out there a few days later. That’s why it’s usually a mistake to assume the worst the second you see a player’s name on that list. There are nearly 50 players on this list right now.
Brian Branch’s placement was expected
Branch landing on the PUP list makes all the sense in the world. The Achilles tendon injury is something that takes time to heal from, and nobody expected him to be ready for the start of camp. The big question now is whether Branch can return around the midway point of camp, before the regular season starts, or sometime in September. That’s a wait-and-see situation. Lions coach Dan Campbell will address the media on Wednesday, and Branch’s recovery timeline should be one of the first topics discussed.
Tyler Conklin’s situation remains unclear
Conklin is the least defined of the three. At this point, the specific nature of his injury hasn’t been disclosed. More information should come Wednesday when Campbell speaks to reporters. For now, all we know is that Conklin won’t be practicing with the rest of the team at the start of camp.
Kerby Joseph’s inclusion is the surprise
Here’s the thing. Just this past week, Joseph posted on X that he wouldn’t be on the PUP list. His exact words: “I bet you I won’t be on that list.” And here he is, on that list.
I get it. Fans are going to see Joseph’s name and start to panic. But let’s all calm down for a second. The PUP list does not mean any of these players are done for the season. It doesn’t even mean they’ll miss all of training camp. A player can come off the PUP list at any time. They could come off Thursday if the team clears them.
What this means is the Lions don’t feel these players can pass the conditioning test just yet. Joseph has been at the facility, but he didn’t participate in OTAs or minicamp. It could simply be that Detroit doesn’t want to push him into full training camp work right away and want to ease him in. That’s a reasonable approach, even if it’s not the one Joseph wanted.
What to watch for on Wednesday
The first day of training camp will bring plenty of answers. Questions will be asked about all three players, and Campbell should provide some clarity on where each guy stands in his recovery process. The PUP list is a procedural move, not a death sentence. These players can return to practice the moment the team feels comfortable putting them through the conditioning test.
We’ll see what the Lions have to say about it on Wednesday and go from there. But until then, this is what we’ve got.
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