Brian Branch said he hit JuJu Smith-Schuster after Sunday's loss to Chiefs in retaliation for a block in the back, but only 2 Lions players got fined.
Brian Branch said he got blocked in the back illegally by Kansas City Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The NFL apparently disagreed.
The NFL did not fine Smith-Schuster for his block on Branch late in the fourth quarter of last week's Detroit Lions-Chiefs game, or for stepping over Branch after the play. Branch said he hit Smith-Schuster in the helmet after the game in retaliation for that block, which he said should have been a penalty.
Branch was suspended one game for the incident.
"I got blocked in the back illegally and it was in front of the ref," Branch said postgame. "The ref didn’t do anything and just stuff like that. And that’s – I could have got hurt off of that, but it’s still, I still shouldn’t have (hit Smith-Schuster)."
Asked if there was anything else the Chiefs did during the game to set him off, Branch said, "There was a lot of stuff but I should have showed it between the whistle, not after the game and I apologize for that."
Neither Smith-Schuster nor Patrick Mahomes, for spinning the ball, pointing and flexing after his touchdown run, were fined for taunting, according to the NFL's weekly gameday accountability listing of fines. No Chiefs were fined for their on-field play or conduct in the game.
Two Lions were fined for unnecessary roughness violations for tripping: Linebacker Alex Anzalone was fined $12,172 and defensive lineman Tyler Lacy was fined $5,722.
Branch also will be docked a gamecheck for his suspension, $76,625.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster dodges fine for block on Brian Branch
Category: Football