Lions’ Brian Branch Suspended for Fight: Will Miss a Game

Brian Branch, Lions Player, Suspended for One Game After Incident with JuJu Smith-Schuster

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch has been suspended for one game without pay due to unsportsmanlike conduct. The suspension comes after Branch hit Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, which sparked a brief confrontation on Sunday night.

“Your aggressive and non-football related act was totally unjustified, posed a serious risk of injury and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” wrote NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan in a letter to Branch. “Your conduct reflects a bad image of the NFL and has no place in our sport.”

Jon Runyan, NFL Vice President of Football Operations

According to sources, Branch plans to appeal the suspension. The appeal will be heard by a hearing officer jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Branch will miss the Lions game next Monday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be able to return to the active roster the next day. After Detroit’s 30-17 loss in Kansas City on Sunday night, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempted to high-five Branch when they met near midfield. Branch walked past Mahomes, and Smith-Schuster took offense to the gesture, approaching Branch and saying a few words to him. Branch responded by hitting Smith-Schuster in his mask, sending him to the ground. Smith-Schuster jumped up and went after Branch. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco tried to get between them, but Branch managed to take Smith-Schuster’s helmet off as dozens of players from both teams gathered in the melee. Finally, the coaches and players separated the parties, and they finally left the field to go to the locker room.

“It was childish, but I’m tired of people doing things between plays and the referees not seeing it,” Branch said after the game. “They try to intimidate me. I should never have done it. It was childish.”

Brian Branch, Detroit Lions Player

Branch was also fined $23,186 for mask penalties and unsportsmanlike conduct against the Green Bay Packers last month. The news of Branch’s plan to appeal the suspension was initially reported.