Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was ejected in the second quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers. Branch was initially called for unnecessary roughness for a hit on a defenseless receiver. After some discussion, the officials deemed the hit serious enough to warrant an ejection.
Take a look:
Melton takes a hard hit to the helmet here. Branch gets ejected for this hit #DETvsGB pic.twitter.com/avpuuL7MYY
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) November 3, 2024
According to the NFL rulebook, if an unnecessary roughness penalty is blatant enough, it can warrant an ejection: (Rule 12, article 8)
Penalty: For unnecessary roughness: Loss of 15 yards. The player may be disqualified if the action is judged by the official(s) to be flagrant.
Branch has been one of the best defensive players in football through seven games. Heading into Week 9, Branch was PFF’s highest graded safety in football.
To make matters worse, Branch earned another personal foul penalty after the ejection, reportedly giving the middle finger to the Packers sideline. Lucky for the Lions, those penalties didn’t end up hurting Detroit, as the Packers would end that drive with a missed field goal.
