# JP Acosta: In a Week 1 overreaction piece, the author expects Detroit's injured star safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph to be back in the lineup by Week 4, which would let coordinator Kelvin Sheppard open up more coverage options and hide CB Rock Ya-Sin.

**Claimed:** Sep 17, 2026
**Pundit:** JP Acosta — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jp-acosta
**Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-defense-panic-meter-super-bowl-contenders/

2 checkable claims — 2 availability calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.

> The Lions should get Branch and Joseph back by week four, so the hope is that Sheppard can unlock more of his playbook with both guys in the lineup.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **The Lions should get Branch and Joseph back by week four, so the hope is that Sheppard can unlock more of his playbook with both guys in the lineup.**
  - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: not settled yet
- **The Lions should get Branch and Joseph back by week four, so the hope is that Sheppard can unlock more of his playbook with both guys in the lineup.**
  - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Brian Branch, Detroit Lions
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Kerby Joseph — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kerby-joseph
- Detroit Lions — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/lions
- Brian Branch — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/brian-branch

## What others said about the same people

- Connor Rogers on Detroit Lions: Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/83d1e88b-95a0-45ba-83d3-f86297170c6c (scored 100)
- Chris Long on Detroit Lions: Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3df9ea25-e57f-4fd7-b20c-c910a1c3633a (scored 100)
- Nate Tice on Detroit Lions: Tice matched his guest on every Week 3 game, picking the Ravens over the Cowboys, the Jaguars over the Patriots in a close game, the Broncos to upset the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears and the Lions over the Jets. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b8378e16-ea5c-4107-a883-28aaf0e71134 (scored 100)
- Steven Ruiz on Detroit Lions: Previewing Week 3, Ruiz picked the Ravens to beat the Cowboys in Brazil, Jacksonville over New England in a low-scoring game, an upset by the Broncos over the Rams, the Raiders over the Saints, the Eagles over the Bears, the Lions over the Jets, and his Hail Mary that Houston beats Indianapolis by two touchdowns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a30ff469-4972-4c48-855b-ba984e4de9d0 (scored 100)
- Richard Sherman on Detroit Lions: Sherman picked winners and several exact scores across the Week 3 slate, favoring Seattle, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Rams, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Kansas City, Minnesota, the Giants, Jacksonville and Houston, and named Kenneth Walker his MVP. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c2102f61-711d-4041-af08-065e95ccaf03 (scored 90.48)
- Colin Cowherd on Detroit Lions: The co-host (identified only as "Mitchell") made his own Week 3 picks, including blowout wins for Seattle and San Francisco, Cincinnati 27-17, Detroit 37-13, Denver 24-21 over the Rams, and predicted Jonah Coleman takes over the Broncos' running back role. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4ccbceaa-54ca-4a2e-ad90-006f1ded0ad2 (scored 59.52)

## More availability calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Andrew Erickson on Jake Ferguson: In his Week 4 buy/sell column, Erickson makes a handful of forward-looking calls: Chase Brown remains Cincinnati's lead back, Keenan Allen is no better than the Colts' third pass-catcher, Mack Hollins is New England's No. 1 target, Jeremiyah Love owns Arizona's backfield, George Kittle is again a top-five fantasy tight end, and Brock Purdy belongs in the MVP conversation. He also makes several availability calls for Week 4 and on Jayden Daniels' return. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3502f74a-4354-4631-8698-10cd219c53c1 (not settled)
- Jacob Herlin on Bryce Young: Ranks all 32 team defenses for fantasy purposes in Week 4, with projected points allowed, sacks, turnovers and fantasy points, putting Minnesota first and Carolina last. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/594ed80e-c3ac-49aa-a927-751407fc26bf (not settled)
- Mike Fanelli on Jayden Daniels: Fanelli expects Jayden Daniels to sit out Washington's Week 4 game in London against the Colts, roughly two weeks after dislocating his elbow, leaving Marcus Mariota to start. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/58e08e6d-989c-437b-a697-dc91f145fb3c (not settled)
- Ralph Ventre on Christian Benford: Ventre expects Christian Benford's toe injury to sideline him for at least the Week 4 game against New England, and believes the Bills will have to add a cornerback to the 53-man roster this week — likely by moving Benford to injured reserve — with practice squad rookie Kani Walker the most likely player elevated. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94b844fe-bb22-4517-81f5-6263eb0213f1 (not settled)
- Fox Sports on Jayden Daniels: With surgery ruled out, Washington's outlet speculates Jayden Daniels avoids injured reserve and, if he isn't back for the Week 4 game in London, returns either in Week 5 against the Giants or Week 6 against the 49ers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/38c42e1c-1990-46fb-a145-d6cf5a1d8c33 (not settled)
- Ian Rapoport on J.J. McCarthy: On the JJ McCarthy trade he expects Jameis Winston to keep starting for the Giants while McCarthy learns, with McCarthy ready to go around midseason weeks six through eight; he also expects Tyson Bagent to start for the Bears next week with Caleb Williams out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b34b40aa-92b6-4ca8-95a0-4c25741e3d19 (not settled)

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