Bills get major advantage with Lions' 2 star safeties out

Josh Allen carved up last year's No. 1 defense to open the season.

He'll face the NFL's worst pass defense through one week of 2026.

And the Detroit Lions will still be missing two of their best defensive players.

Star safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch will both miss Thursday night's game against the Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.

Joseph and Branch opened the season on the physically unable to perform list, making them ineligible to return for the first four games.

It's good news for the Bills , whose passing attack that is off to a fast start.

Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns in Buffalo's 36-31 victory over the Houston Texans .

Detroit had a much different opening weekend.

New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough completed 35 of 56 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions' 31-30 overtime victory. Detroit is last in the NFL with 378 net passing yards allowed.

Joseph, 25, was one of the NFL's best ballhawks before a knee injury derailed his 2025 season. He led the league with nine interceptions in 2024, earning first-team All-Pro honors, and has 20 interceptions in 55 career games.

Detroit rewarded Joseph after that season with a four-year, $86 million contract extension. Joseph's knee limited him to six games last season before he landed on injured reserve. The injury continued to linger into 2026, and he opened the season on PUP.

Branch, 24, made the Pro Bowl in 2024 after recording 109 tackles, 16 passes defended and four interceptions. He had 75 tackles, 2.5 sacks and nine passes defended in 12 games last season before tearing his Achilles against the Dallas Cowboys in December.