Bucs Catch Break: Brian Branch Out Monday Night
October 16th, 2025
You’re out!
He appealed. And the NFL said get lost.
The Bucs, who likely will be playing without their top four receivers Monday night when they face the Lions in Motown, got a needed break for the passing game.
Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch will indeed have to sit out the Monday night game with the Bucs, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Branch was hit with a one-game suspension earlier this week for a hassle he sparked after the Lions’ loss to Kansas City Sunday night, when he belted nitwit Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, which ignited a melee.
The NFL wasted no time in hitting him with a suspension and Branch immediately appealed.
Last night the verdict was reached: You’re out!
Branch, after Kansas City was in victory formation, walked straight to Smith-Schuster and clocked him. Next thing you know, both teams are going at it and you can see more than one player swinging in the middle of the scrum.
The Detroit safety later claimed Smith-Schuster had cheap-shot him all night and Branch wanted to get payback.
Yeah, the Bucs are likely down their top four receivers. So not facing Brach ought to help. A little.
#Lions Safety Brian Branch walks directly up to #Chiefs WR Juju Smith & slaps him in the face of his helmet 😮 pic.twitter.com/h5pQ3EASOH
— Theconnectsport (@theconnectsport) October 13, 2025
October 16th, 2025 at 12:12 am
A feast for Baker? LFG
Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2025 at 12:19 am
The Lions get boned by the NFL as often as the Bucs do. If this was a guy who played for a big market/rating magnet team like Dallas, Pittsburgh or a ball club in the Northeast, he would have been granted the appeal. Still, huge break for the Bucs, hopefully it will help them get the W.
October 16th, 2025 at 12:19 am
That is not what happened. [Video shows Branch walking straight to JuJu Schuster and clobbering him. — Joe.] Mahomes reached his hand out to Branch and Branch totally ignored him. Mahomes patted him on the arm anyway, and walked away. Juju thought it was disrespectful and went over to say something to Branch and then Branch turned into an immature 11 year-old and threw a punch
Thank you, juju
sincerely, the Buccaneers
October 16th, 2025 at 12:43 am
Nice. Go Bucs!
October 16th, 2025 at 1:00 am
The original broadcast made it appear like juju went to talk to him about the handshake snub. This view shows that branch had his eyes set on juju from the beginning. Branch clearly sought out juju.
October 16th, 2025 at 1:32 am
Branch was wrong but JuJu is a turd so whatever.
October 16th, 2025 at 2:43 am
Having him in there would really not have mattered.
The refs on the other hand…
October 16th, 2025 at 3:03 am
I bet he saw Derrick Brooks and thought well geez how am I gonna win this.
October 16th, 2025 at 3:10 am
Without condemning or condoning, I understand why Branch did it. Juju was a cheap female dog. That being said, I’m not sad he got suspended.
October 16th, 2025 at 3:53 am
Perfect game for Mike to get some much needed yards to break the record. Hope he’s ready to go this week. Bucs 27 Lions 16
October 16th, 2025 at 4:29 am
This is great news. However, Branch should have gotten more than one game suspension. He showed poor sportsmanship and then lashed out even more.
The video shows it all. Everyone saw what transpired. Mahomes showed good sportsmanship when he tried to shake his hand. Hey, some people don’t like to shake hands, understand that, but they will do a fist bump and/or stop to talk with the person. Branch had another tantrum and got a slap on the hand. He will learn nothing from it.