Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was seen pulling safety Brian Branch away from a postgame altercation following Detroit’s 30-17 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.

Branch won’t be taking the field this Sunday when the Lions face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football.” The NFL handed the safety a one-game suspension without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct after he struck Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster during the tense ending of Sunday’s contest.

The altercation led to a brief scuffle as both squads exited the field. While Branch defended his actions afterward in the locker room, the league viewed the matter differently.

Players have three days to file an appeal through the NFL Players Association, and Branch’s representatives did so.

But the attempt failed.

“Lions safety Brian Branch’s one-game suspension has been upheld following his appeal,” reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Lions supporters voiced their displeasure online. One fan wrote, “He still owns that [expletive] JuJu,” while another commented, “Hollywood Brown threw a punch last week—no suspension, interesting.” Many pointed to the NFL’s inconsistency as the reason for their outrage.

Others took a lighter approach. One fan quipped, “Branch: Can we talk this out? NFL: Nope, enjoy the couch this Sunday.” Another added, “Tried to appeal when the footage was in 4K😂😂😂.”

Branch’s frustration during the moment was understandable. Following Detroit’s 30-17 loss to Kansas City, he accused the Chiefs of taking several cheap shots that officials ignored. A viral clip showed Smith-Schuster blocking him from behind, explaining the heightened tension.

When Smith-Schuster hit him again, Branch lost his composure. He swung, made contact with the helmet, apologized immediately, and declined a handshake from Patrick Mahomes afterward.

Losing Branch will hurt the 4-2 Lions’ defensive lineup as they continue their crucial playoff push in the weeks ahead.