Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was fined this week for a hit delivered to Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft. The fine was for “use of the helmet,” and carries a $23,882 fine. That is the standard amount of a penalty like this, as it was his first offense of the season—but far from his first offense of this type.
Here’s a look at Branch’s infraction:
Branch has a history of fines like this. According to Spotrac, Branch has been
previously fined a total of 15 times, including five involving an impermissible use of his helmet and two hits on a defenseless receiver. He’s also been ejected/suspended twice: once for helmet-to-helmet hit against the Packers in 2024, and he was suspended for one week after throwing punches at Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the game.
This was just Branch’s first game back after suffering a torn Achilles in December last year. He played a limited role against the Packers, but Lions coach Dan Campbell noted on Friday he will have no pitch count in Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
“Now he’s ready. So yes, there are no limitations on him going into this game,” Campbell said.
Other Week 7 fine notes:
Derrick Barnes was also fined for a late hit that was flagged in the game. No Lions players were fined for taunting despite their boisterous celebration following a Packers offsides penalty—but Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse was fined for taunting. There were no other fines from that Week 7 game.
