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Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was doing “the Lord’s work” when he faced 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 her… scream,” Franklin said during a recent appearance on the “Club 520 Podcast.”
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(Left) Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) checks out the backfield against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sept. 21, 2025. (Right) Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) fights with wide receiver Kansas City Chiefs’ JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) while being retained by 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 get over there… You’ve been needing your… shout for a minute. Brian Branch is doing the Lord’s work.”
Franklin called Smith-Schuster an “asshole” for the way he played.
“(Smith-Schuster) is an idiot, brother,” Franklin said. “This is my thing, I’m going to talk dirty to you. We’re going straight up. And when we have that one-on-one, I’m not going to dodge the smoke. So whether I win or lose, it is what it is. He’s the guy who’s going to do all the weird, sneaky little things, shove you in the back, run up to the ref… and then try to be nice to you.”
Franklin referenced photos that circulated online after the fight that showed Smith-Schuster with a bloody nose, and mocked the Chiefs wide receiver for it.
“Bro, you can’t cry with your nose (blood). You got kids, bro,” Franklin said. “What’s going to happen to your son? Come on, bro… I really feel like, bro, I can’t let everyone… my son be in the stands, I can’t let you put your hands on me. My girl is watching. She might like you now after this. Like, what, I’m going to tell my girl when I get home that I just got yelled at on Sunday night.”
SECURITY LIONS BRIAN BRANCH SUSPENDED 1 GAME FOR FIGHTING AFTER LOSS TO CHIEFS
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 Oct. 12, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Image Images)
While Franklin would have loved the scrum, the Lions certainly wouldn’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 will not be accepted here. It’s not what we do. It’s not what we do,” Campbell said after the game. “I apologized to coach (Andy) Reid and the Chiefs, and to Smith-Schuster.
“That’s not right. That’s not what we do here. It’s not going to be right. He knows that. Our team knows that. That’s not what we do.”
Branch called his decision to start the fight “childish.”
“It was childish, but I’m tired of people doing things between plays and the referees not noticing,” Branch said. “They’re trying to intimidate me. 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 pass to Branch.
After exchanging words, Branch slapped Smith-Schuster on the helmet. As the fight unfolded and the players tried to separate them, Branch took off Smith-Schuster’s helmet.
Branch’s postgame outburst wasn’t the first time unsportsmanlike conduct hurt him, as he’s already been fined this season. He was docked $23,186 for fines for mask wearing and unsportsmanlike conduct against the Green Bay Packers in September.
