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Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was doing “the Lord’s work” when he got into the game with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Branch and Smith-Schuster were at the center of a scrum following the Chiefs’ 30-17 win over the Lions on Sunday, and Franklin was all for it.
“JuJu needed his…shout out,” Franklin said during a recent appearance on the “Club 520 Podcast.”
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(Left) Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) looks into the backfield against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on September 21, 2025. (Right) Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) fights with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) while being retained by the Kansas City Chiefs. players after an NFL football game in Kansas City, Missouri on October 12, 2025. (Steve Roberts/Imagn Images; Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
“Let’s go…He’s been needing his cry for a minute. Brian Branch is doing the Lord’s work.”
Franklin called Smith-Schuster “a—–” for the way he plays.
“(Smith-Schuster) is a…, my brother,” Franklin said. “That’s my thing, I’m going to talk to you about the dirty stuff. We’re going to go at it right now. And when we have that face-off, I’m not going to avoid the smoke. So if I win or lose, that’s what it is. He’s the type to do all the weird, sneaky little things, push you in the back, go running to the ref… then try to be cool with you afterwards.”
Franklin referenced photos that circulated online after the fight that showed Smith-Schuster with a bloody nose, and he mocked the Chiefs receiver for it.
“Brother, you can’t cry with your (bloody) nose. You have children, brother,” Franklin said. “Like, what’s going to happen with your son? Come on, bro. … I really feel like, bro, I can’t leave you all – my son in the stands, I can’t let you put your hands on me. My daughter watching. She might love you now after this. Like, what, I’m going to tell my daughter when I get home, I just got yelled at Sunday night.”
LIONS SECURITY BRIAN BRANCH SUSPENDED 1 GAME FOR FIGHTING AFTER LOSS TO CHEFS
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (not pictured) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) fight after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
As much as Franklin might have loved the scrimmage, the Lions certainly didn’t. The NFL suspended Branch for one game and he lost his appeal.
The Lions will be without their star safety for their Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lions head coach Dan Campbell condemned Branch’s actions.
“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it will not be accepted here. That’s not what we do. That’s not our goal,” Campbell said after the game. “I apologized to coach (Andy) Reid, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.
“It’s not right. It’s not what we do here. It’s not going to be okay. He knows it. Our team knows it. It’s not what we do.”
Branch called his decision to start the fight “childish.”
“It was a childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing stuff between games and the refs not understanding,” Branch said. “They’re trying to intimidate me there. I should never have done it. It was childish.”
Brian Branch #32 of the Detroit Lions leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 22, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The incident occurred when Patrick Mahomes was shown trying to shake Branch’s hand. The Lions safety ignored Mahomes, prompting Smith-Schuster to go to Branch.
After exchanging words, Branch slapped Smith-Schuster across the helmet. As the fight unfolded and players attempted to separate the two, Branch removed Smith-Schuster’s helmet.
Branch’s postgame outburst isn’t the first time unsportsmanlike conduct has hurt him, as he’s already been fined this season. He was fined $23,186 for face mask and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Green Bay Packers in September.
