Lions' Branch suspended 1 game for fight with Smith-Schuster

The NFL is suspending Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch one game without pay for his altercation with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after Sunday night's loss, the league announced Monday.

Branch punched Smith-Schuster on the field following a kneeldown by Patrick Mahomes that ended the game. Smith-Schuster then grabbed Branch's facemask, and a fight involving more players ensued.

Branch will appeal the one-game suspension, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"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," league vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Branch, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

"Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game."

Branch, a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, expressed regret for his actions.

"I did a little childish thing, but I'm tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don't catch it," Branch told reporters Sunday night. "They be trying to bully me out there and I don't - I shouldn't have did it. It was childish."

Detroit lost 30-17 on Sunday night, dropping its record to 4-2. Branch played every defensive snap in the contest, totaling seven tackles. With Branch appealing, he could still suit up in the team's upcoming Monday Night Football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.