Brian Branch hitting JuJu Smith-Schuster (Photo via NBC Sports)
The NFL office may not have agreed with Brian Branch’s punch on JuJu Smith-Schuster, but the Detroit Lions’ star safety has won over support from one of his peers.

After the Lions fell 30-17 to the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football”, an angry Brian Branch punched JuJu Smith-Schuster in the face, leading to a brief brouhaha between the two teams.

Cameras showed Smith-Schuster bleeding as he made his way to the Chiefs’ locker room. After the game, Branch stated that his cheap shot on Smith-Schuster stemmed from unhappiness over a hit he took from the veteran wide receiver on a blocking play, believing there should have been a flag:

The NFL suspended Brian Branch for one game, so he’ll miss the pivotal Week 7 home tilt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football.”

During an appearance on Jeff Teague’s “Club 520 Podcast” (h/t Jacob Camenker of USA Today), Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin defended Branch and claimed Smith-Schuster got what he deserved:

“JuJu needed his a*s whooped. He been needing his a*s whooped for a minute. Brian Branch (is) doing the work of the Lord.

He’s an a**hole, bro…This is my thing. I’m gonna talk greasy to you. We gonna go right up. And when we get that one-on-one, I ain’t gonna duck the smoke. So if I win or lose, it is what it is…He the type that’s gonna do all the little weird, sneaky stuff, push you behind the back, go run to the ref…then try to be cool with you after.”

It’s worth noting that the Colts visit the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium (1:00 p.m. EST), so we’ll see if Alexander and Smith-Schuster have some choice words for each other before, during and after the game.

Brian Branch Is Having Another Productive Season For Lions

Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) get into a fight after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)
Losing the one-time Pro Bowler for an important game against Tampa Bay isn’t ideal for the Lions, whose defense has struggled against top offensive units this season.

Dan Campbell’s group has a lot of depth on defense, but it’s hard to replace a Pro Bowl safety like Branch, who’s been instrumental in Detroit’s rise to NFC heavyweight. Branch has five pass breakups, a forced fumble and one sack over his first six games.

The 24-year-old Brian Branch recorded seven interceptions, 29 pass breakups and two forced fumbles over his first two seasons, cementing himself as one of the NFL’s top young defensive backs.