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Indianapolis Colts Linebacker Zaire Franklin said Detroit Lions cornerback Brian Branch was doing “the Lord's work” when he got involved with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Branch and Smith-Schuster found themselves in the middle of a fight after leaders A 30-17 win over the Lions on Sunday, and Franklin was all for it.
“JuJu needed his ass,” Franklin said during a recent appearance on “Club 520 Podcast.”
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Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin on left. Right: Detroit Lions cornerback Brian Branch (32) tackles Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) as he is restrained by Kansas City Chiefs players after a game in Kansas City on Oct. 12, 2025. (Steve Roberts/Imagn Images; Ed Zurga/AP Photo)
“Let’s just go there… He needed his ass for a minute. Brian Branch is doing the Lord's work.”
Franklin called Smith-Schuster “a—–” for the way he plays.
“(Smith-Schuster) is an asshole, bro,” Franklin said. “This is my business, I will talk dirty to you. We'll go straight up. And when we meet one on one, I won't shy away from the smoke. So if I win or lose, it will be as it is. He's the kind of guy who will do all the weird, mean things, push you behind your back, run to the referee… and then try to act cool with you.”
Franklin referred to 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 (bloody) nose. You got kids, bro,” Franklin said. “Like, what’s going to happen to your son? Come on bro… I really feel like bro, I can't let you all – my son is in the stands, I can't let you lay your hands on me. My girl is watching. She might like you now, after this. Like, I'm going to tell my girl when I get home, I just screamed on Sunday night.”
LIONS SAFETY BRIAN BRANCH LOCKED 1 GAME AFTER LOSS TO CHIEFS
Detroit Lions cornerback Brian Branch (not pictured) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) get into a fight after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
Although Franklin may have enjoyed the fight, Lions of course not. The NFL suspended Branch for one game and he lost his appeal.
The Lions will be without their star defense for their Week 7 matchup against the Lions. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lions head coach Dan Campbell condemned Branch's actions.
“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is unforgivable and will not be accepted here. That's not what we do. That's not what we do,” Campbell said after the game. “I apologized to Coach (Andy) Reid, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.
“This is not good. We don't do that here. It won't be good. He knows it. Our team knows this. 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 games and the refs not noticing it,” Branch said. “They are trying to intimidate me. I should never have done this. It was childish.”
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Brian Branch (32) of the Detroit Lions walks off the field after a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
The incident occurred when Patrick Mahomes tried to shake Branch's hand. Lions security ignored Mahomes, prompting Smith-Schuster to approach Branch.
After words were exchanged, Branch punched Smith-Schuster in the helmet. As the fight unfolded and players tried to separate the two, Branch removed Smith-Schuster's helmet.
Branch's outburst after the game wasn't the first time unsportsmanlike behavior had hurt him. He has already been fined this season. He was fined $23,186 for mask and unsportsmanlike conduct. Green Bay Packers in September.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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