The Detroit Lions have ruled out cornerback Brian Branch for their Week 5 matchup against the Carolina Panthers following an ejection during their recent victory over the Green Bay Packers.

Branch was thrown out of the game in the second quarter for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers receiver Bo Melton.

After the officials had initially flagged Branch for the hit, the league’s officiating command center in New York intervened, instructing the on-field officials to eject him from the game.

This decision sparked significant backlash, with numerous commentators, including former NFL star Tom Brady, voicing their disagreement.

“I don’t love that call at all,” Brady, who was part of the broadcast team during the game, stated.

“It’s a penalty, no doubt, but to me, it requires serious intent in a game like this.” Despite Branch’s ejection, the Lions managed to secure a 24-14 victory over the Packers, but the controversy surrounding the decision continued to attract attention.

Growing discontent over the NFL’s ruling was palpable, with many expressing disbelief that Branch was ejected instead of just being penalized for unnecessary roughness. Former Lions wide receiver Herman Moore took to X to share his thoughts, saying,

“The @nfl needs to look into the ejection of Brian Branch. Something’s not right with that call. This is the equivalent of Goff getting ejected.”

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg also expressed his frustration with the ejection.

“I need to get a Thesaurus so I can find more words to describe how much I hate the ejection of Brian Branch in Green Bay,” he posted on X.

In the aftermath of the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell revealed that he did not receive a comprehensive explanation regarding Branch’s ejection. He noted that the decision originated from the league office, not from the on-field officials.

“The only explanation I got — those guys did a great job, (referee) Clete (Blakeman) and them, I got a lot of respect for what they do — they just said it came from (the league office in) New York. That’s all I’ve got on it,” Campbell stated, as reported by Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever been a part of something like that since I’ve been a head coach, where somebody got ejected. So I didn’t see it. I don’t know.”

Despite the ejection and the challenging weather conditions, the Lions held on to secure a crucial win against a divisional rival.

Campbell expressed pride in the team’s resilience, emphasizing their capability to thrive in adverse conditions. “We’re built for this, man,” he said. “Just because we play indoors, it doesn’t matter.

We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. We can play in the mud. That’s just us. We’re built to win.”

With this victory, the Lions improved their record to 7-1, placing them at the top of the NFC North and within the top tier of the conference standings.

This strong performance solidifies their position as serious contenders this season.

Nathan Dougherty, the author of this article, is a sports reporter for Heavy.com, where he covers the NFL with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins.

He has previously contributed to the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor for various athletic trade magazines, including Coaching Management, Athletic Management, and Training & Conditioning.

Based in Rochester, New York, Dougherty has a deep passion for football and the sport’s dynamics.