Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was ejected on Sunday at Green Bay after delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers receiver Bo Melton.

Branch struck Melton near the Packers’ sideline following Jordan Love’s deep pass attempt on second-and-20 in the second quarter.

He received a penalty for unnecessary roughness, and officials deemed the hit severe enough to warrant an ejection.

NFL senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell told a pool reporter after the Lions’ 24-14 win that the decision to eject Branch was made in collaboration with the league office in New York.

“We reviewed all the angles and felt that he had time and space to make a different choice, as it was a flagrant foul,” Fewell explained. “He clearly had the opportunity to avoid the head and neck area.”

Branch did not speak with reporters after the game. Melton, however, said he didn’t believe the hit to the head was intentional.

“He was playing ball,” Melton stated. “I’m all good, so it is what it is. He was playing ball and hit me while I was in the air.

So it is what it is.” Lions coach Dan Campbell expressed his desire for Branch to maintain his aggressive style but emphasized the need to lower his target on such plays.

He also suggested the late-game time might have contributed to the ejection.

“He’s got to adjust, too,” Campbell said. “When you play in prime-time games, New York is going to review all of these. They don’t pay as much attention to the 1 o’clock games.

But prime-time games are different. He has to understand the situation and work through it. He’ll be fine.”

Branch was visibly upset about his ejection, gesturing at fans in the stands at Lambeau Field before being escorted off the field and into the locker room.

Instead of facing third-and-20 from their own 38-yard line, the Packers were given a first down at Detroit’s 32. However, they failed to capitalize, as Brandon McManus missed a 46-yard field goal wide left.