Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell had zero tolerance toward Brian Branch’s violent act in Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Branch hit Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with an open palm strike as the clock neared zero during Detroit’s 30-17 loss at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Players from both sides had to hold Branch and Smith-Schuster back as the two got entangled after the initial blow.
Campbell addressed the incident to start off his postgame press conference. He condemned Branch for an act the veteran head coach called “inexcusable.”
“I love Brian Branch, but what he did was inexcusable,” Campbell said. “It’s not going to be accepted here. It’s not what we do. It’s not what we’re about. I apologized to Coach Reid, and the Chiefs, and [JuJu Smith-Schuster]. That’s not okay. That’s not what we do here. It’s not going to be okay. He knows it. Our team knows it.”
Branch expressed regret as he spoke to reporters after the game. He called his actions “childish” and explained that he was just frustrated about getting illegally blocked late in the game, which he claims the referees missed.
The NFL will likely look into punishing Branch with a hefty fine and possibly a suspension.
Branch finished the game with seven tackles, tied for third-best on the Lions. Smith-Schuster caught three passes for 57 yards in the Chiefs’ 13-point victory.
