Week 14 of the regular season started with the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys linking up on Thursday Night Football. The Lions were able to come away with a 44-30 win over the Cowboys, but it wasn't all great for them.
In the process, they lost safety Brian Branch, who left the game in the fourth quarter with what was said to be an ankle injury. Unfortunately, it was worse, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Branch tore his Achilles tendon and will be done for the rest of the season.
That's a massive blow to the Lions' secondary, and that could create an opportunity for former Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill to land back in a starting lineup.
Brian Branch’s Injury May Open Door for Juan Thornhill Signing
Thornhill hasn't been with the Chiefs since 2022. For the first four years of his career (2019-2022), he was a steady playmaker in the backend. He started in 52 games for them, racking up 234 total tackles, 20 pass deflections, and eight interceptions. Thornhill also won two Super Bowls in Kansas City but has struggled to capture that same success elsewhere.
He's played for the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers for the last two seasons. Back on Nov. 10, the Steelers released Thornhill as he failed to make a positive impact in the secondary. According to Pro Football Focus, he had a 36.9 overall grade (94th among 95 graded safeties), 57.0 run defense grade (86th among 95 graded safeties), and a 35.9 coverage grade (92nd among 95 graded safeties).
In nine games with the Steelers, Thornhill allowed a whopping 146.2 passer rating in coverage. He also gave up 11 receptions (12 targets) for 149 yards and one touchdown this season. The veteran defender really had problems in Pittsburgh, which ultimately led to his release, allowing Thornhill to join the Jaguars' practice squad. As we know, that partnership did not last very long either.
It'll be interesting to see if the Lions seek to add him to their active roster. While Thornhill has been underwhelming for the past couple of seasons, he's a veteran with playoff experience. The Lions badly need help in the safety room, especially since Kerby Joseph is also dealing with a knee injury.
There are only four games left in the regular season, and with Branch done for the year, Thornhill may be someone Detroit looks to bring in. The other options on the market include Darnell Savage, Richie Grant, and Justin Simmons. There aren't many choices, and that is something else that works in Thornhill's favor.