Lions Cut 34 Players To Trim Down Roster To 53, Starting Both Kerby Joseph & Brian Branch On PUP List

August 30, 2026

The Detroit Lions announced their initial 53-man roster which included 34 cuts.

Lions announce roster moves

🔗 https://t.co/jMCrIoL0tq pic.twitter.com/TqdR5XkRnc

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 31, 2026

The full list includes:

DL Myles Adams
LB Joe Bachie
TE Tyler Conklin
WR Greg Dortch
WR Tom Kennedy
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
LB Troy Reeder
DL Ben Stille
RB Trayveon Williams
QB Luke Altmyer
WR Tarik Black
CB Ekow Boye-Doe
DB Aamaris Brown
OL Devin Cochran
CB Bump Cooper Jr.
WR Malik Cunningham
TE Thomas Gordon
OL Gus Hartwig
TE Zach Horton
LB Erick Hunter
S Dan Jackson
WR Lucky Jackson
WR Dominic Lovett
EDGE Anthony Lucas
G Mason Miller
G Melvin Priestly
CB Eric Scott Jr.
DL Chris Smith
OL Colby Sorsdal
S Jason Taylor II
DL Tyre West
CB Nick Whiteside
RB Roydell Williams
OL Michael Niese (injured)

In addition, the Lions placed safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the PUP list, sidelining them for the first four games at least. Detroit also put OT Giovanni Manu on the reserve/non-football injury list and C Cade Mays on injured reserve/designated to return.

Joseph, 25, was a third-round pick to the Lions out of Illinois in the 2022 draft. He signed a four-year, $5 million contract through 2025 with a base salary of $1,138,628 in 2024.

He was entering the final year of that deal when he signed a four-year, $86 million extension in 2025.

In 2025, Joseph appeared in six games for the Lions and recorded 18 tackles and three interceptions.

Branch, 24, was a first-team All-American selection for Alabama following his junior season in 2022. He declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Lions with the No. 45 overall pick in the second round.

He’s entering the final year of a four-year, $8,021,730 rookie contract that included a $2,833,985 signing bonus.

In 2025, Branch has appeared in 12 games for the Lions and recorded 75 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a recovery.