But Branch, the Lions’ second-year defensive back, didn’t see his recent actions as a laughing matter.
He was ejected during Detroit’s 24-14 win Sunday against Green Bay after taking a late hit on Packers receiver Bo Melton at 6:18 of the second quarter with the Lions leading 7-3 at Lambeau Field. Then, before leaving the field, Branch attacked the crowd in apparent frustration and was assessed another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Branch apologized for throwing double birds into the Green Bay crowd and said he agreed with the referee’s decision.
“That’s not something I wanted to show off or have people notice me,” Branch said. “That was just the heat of the moment for me, and I apologize to everyone who saw that and it won’t happen again.”
After watching a replay of the hit, Lions defensive assistant Jim O’Neil said it was difficult to find a teaching point in that situation. The coaching staff’s immediate response was to encourage Branch to lower his goal, but no one thought he had malicious intent at the time of hurting anyone. Branch expressed that too.
“I definitely agree with the decision. My aim was obviously high, but it was never my intention to aim for the head,” Branch said. “To move forward I have to move my goal downwards.”
Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams also officially returned from his two-game suspension this week for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
Coach Dan Campbell said they won’t waste any time getting him back into the offense.
“He’s been here. So he couldn’t be there at practice, but he was here training, we had him running, he’s in meetings… all of that,” Campbell said Monday. “So, he’s been here and, honestly, he’s thrown it back there. I mean, he’s leaving. Let’s go.
“So we’ll get him out there with the offense and get him going. I hope he’s ready to roll.”
Williams called it “great” to receive that support from Campbell during those times and said he learned to “move smarter and be a bigger person in certain situations.”
However, he did not go into all the details of his suspension and left no message for those who may see his recent actions as a distraction.
“It means a lot. That’s my head coach and I’ve been through a lot playing with him and we’ve clashed in certain situations, but now I see that he has faith in me and understands what happened, so it’s big.” for me with him having faith in me and being with me in those situations,” Williams said of Campbell.
