Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch will miss the team’s next game after receiving a one-game suspension from the NFL for his conduct following Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.The suspension, issued by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan, comes with a loss of pay for the player.
The incident occurred after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took a final kneel down to end the game. Branch approached Kansas City receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster behind the line of scrimmage and struck him in the facemask with an open hand, triggering a brief altercation between both teams. This suspension underscores the league’s commitment to player safety and sportsmanship, and impacts the Lions’ defensive lineup as they prepare for a Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Runyan’s letter to Branch stated the act was “aggressive, non-football…entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players.” He further emphasized that Branch’s actions “reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Both Branch and Lions head coach Dan Campbell issued apologies following the game. Branch described his behavior as “childish.” He has the option to appeal the suspension, which would be reviewed by Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson.This is not Branch’s first disciplinary action; he had been fined three times during the 2024 season and seven times in 2023 for similar conduct.Assuming the suspension stands, branch is eligible to return to the lions’ roster on Tuesday, October 22nd, following Detroit’s Monday night game against Tampa Bay.
