Monday night against the Buccaneers, the Lions will be without starting point guard Brian Branch.
NFL announced Branch’s one-game suspension has been confirmed by Hearing Officer Jordy Nelson. (The fact that Nelson is a Packers Hall of Famer surely won’t bother Lions fans.)
Branch caused a fight by punching Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the face immediately after Sunday night’s game in Kansas City. The league office imposed the suspension the following day. The precedent was mixed; The history of fines imposed on Branch (10 in two seasons) certainly did not help his cause.
Branch will be eligible to return to the Lions on Tuesday. Avonte Maddox is Branch’s likely replacement in Detroit’s starting lineup.
This is one of the biggest games of Week 7, with the 5-1 Buccaneers hoping to fend off the Falcons in the NFC South and accumulate enough wins to compete for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. If they lose, the Lions will surpass their 2024 total, where they finished 15-2.
