NFL news: Colts LB rips JuJu Smith-Schuster, praises Brian Branch after fight

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch did “God’s work” when he hired Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Branch and Smith-Schuster were at the center of the turmoil following the Chiefs’ 30-17 win over the Lions on Sunday, and Franklin was ready for it, too.

“JuJu needed to scream,” Franklin said during a recent television appearance. “Club 520 Podcast.”

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Let’s go there…He’s been needing to scream for a minute. Brian Branch is doing God’s work.”

Franklin called Smith-Schuster “an a—–” for the way he played.

“(Smith-Schuster’s) is great, bro,” Franklin said. “It’s my job, I’m going to talk you down. We’re going to go right up. And when we meet one on one, I’m not going to run out of smoke. So if I win or lose, that’s the way it is. He’s the type to do all the little weird, sneaky things, push you from behind, run to the referee… then try to be cool with you.”

Franklin referenced photos circulating online after the fight showing Smith-Schuster with a bloody nose and mocked the Chiefs wide receiver for it.

“Brother, you can’t cry with your (bloody) nose. You have children, brother,” Franklin said. “Like, what’s going to happen to your son? Come on, bro. … I really feel like, bro, I can’t let y’all – my son’s in the stands, I can’t let you put your hands on me. My daughter’s watching. She might like you from now on. Like, what, when I get home, I’m gonna tell my daughter I just screamed Sunday night.”

LIONS SAFETY BRIAN BRANCH SUSPENDED 1 MATCH DUE TO TALKING AFTER CHIEF’S LOSS

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/Imagn Images)

While Franklin may have loved this offense, the Lions certainly didn’t. The NFL suspended Branch for one game, and the branch lost its 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. That’s not what we do. That’s not what we’re about,” Campbell said after the game. “I apologized to coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.

“That’s not right. That’s not what we’re doing here. It’s not going to happen okay. He knows that. Our team knows that. That’s not what we’re doing.”

Branch called the decision to start the fight “childish.”

“It was a childish thing to do, but I’m tired of people doing things in between plays and the referees not understanding it,” Branch said. “They’re trying to bully me out there. I should never have done that. It was childish.”

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Brian Branch #32 of the Detroit Lions walks off 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 seen trying to shake hands with Branch. The Lions safety ignored Mahomes, which led to Smith-Schuster going to Branch.

After the speech, Branch slapped Smith-Schuster’s helmet. As the argument escalated and the players tried to separate the two, Branch removed Smith-Schuster’s helmet.

Branch’s post-match outburst wasn’t the first time his unsportsmanlike conduct had taken its toll on 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.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.