Lions' Safety Brian Branch Offers Public Apology for flipping off Green Bay crowd

As Brian Branch prepared to address reporters in the Detroit Lions’ locker room following Wednesday’s walk-through practice, a teammate called out, “throw them up, BB,” as he passed by. However, Branch, now in his second year with the Lions as a defensive back, wasn’t in the mood to joke about his recent actions.

Branch was ejected during Detroit’s 24-14 win over Green Bay on Sunday after a late hit on Packers receiver Bo Melton at 6:18 in the second quarter, with the Lions ahead 7-3 at Lambeau Field. Frustrated, Branch flipped off the crowd as he left the field, resulting in another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Branch later apologized for the gesture toward the Green Bay crowd, saying he agreed with the referee’s call.

“That’s not something I wanted to show or want people to notice me for,” Branch said. “That was just the heat of the moment, and I apologize to everyone who saw that. It won’t happen again.”

After watching a replay, Lions defensive assistant Jim O’Neil acknowledged it was tough to find a teaching moment from the situation. The coaching staff’s immediate feedback was for Branch to lower his target, but they didn’t believe he intended to harm anyone. Branch agreed with that assessment.

“I definitely agree with the call. My target was obviously high, but it was never my intention to aim for the head,” Branch explained. “Moving forward, I need to lower my target.”

Meanwhile, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams officially returned this week from a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Coach Dan Campbell made it clear they plan to reintegrate Williams into the offense immediately.

“He’s been here. He couldn’t be on the practice field, but he was here training, running, and attending meetings,” Campbell said on Monday. “So, we’re throwing him right back in. He’s ready to go.”

Williams expressed gratitude for Campbell’s support during his suspension, saying it was “big” to have his coach’s backing and that he’s learned to “move smarter and be a bigger person in certain situations.”

However, Williams declined to go into detail about his suspension and didn’t comment on any potential distractions his actions might have caused.

“It means a lot,” Williams said of Campbell’s support. “That’s my head coach, and we’ve had our differences at times. But now I see he has faith in me. It’s meaningful to have him alongside me in those situations.”