Lions’ Brian Branch suspended for punching Smith-Schuster

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was suspended one game by the NFL on Monday for striking Kansas City wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, sparking a post-game scuffle following Sunday’s 30-17 loss.

“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan said in a statement. “Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”

The altercation began when Branch struck Smith-Schuster in the face after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes executed a game-ending kneel.

Smith-Schuster confronted Branch, who then grabbed the receiver’s facemask and tossed him to the ground, sparking a larger conflict involving players from both teams.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell criticized Branch after the game, saying he apologized to Chiefs coach Andy Reid for Branch’s actions.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not going to be accepted here. It’s not what we do, it’s not what we’re about,” Campbell said. “That’s not OK. That’s not what we do here, and it’s not going to be OK. He knows it, our team knows it. That’s not what we do.”

Branch, 23, apologized after the game, calling his actions “a childish thing” but saying he was retaliating for attempts to “bully” him, including Smith-Schuster hitting him in the back late in the game.

In his third NFL season, Branch had seven tackles on Sunday and has 33 in six games this season.  He drew seven fines last season and has been fined three times this season for a total of $34,784 for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness violations.