The Detroit Lions had an injury-hampered defensive performance in a 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 12. They might be down another defensive back next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- but not for injury.
Safety Brian Branch, who was questionable to play ahead of the game with an ankle injury but made the start, appeared to initiate a skirmish with a few Chiefs by smacking Kansas City receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the head in the closing seconds of the game.
Branch was then held back by Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco, but Smith-Schuster lunged at Branch shortly after, which led to a bigger skirmish around midfield that included Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The incident occureed after the Chiefs had run down the clock with successive kneeldowns towards the end of the game and with both coaches heading to midfield to shake hands.
The 2024 Pro Bowler likely faces at least a fine, and possibly a suspension, for appearing to instigate the fight. He was fined seven times in 2024 for various incidents, including illegal hits and for an obscene gesture directed to the Lambeau Field crowd after being ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
If Branch is suspended, that could end up a huge loss for the Lions' secondary, which played without starters Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed, both of whom are recovering from injury. Kerby Joseph also left the game briefly against the Chiefs appearing to reaggrevate a knee injury, but returned later in the second quarter.
This is a developing story.
You can reach Christian Romo at cromo@freepress.com