“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” Runyan said in his message to Branch.

Runyan, who knows all about the physical nature of the game from his own playing days, made it clear that Branch’s actions went too far. “Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game,” he added.

While Branch’s punishment was relatively light, a one-game suspension, it sent a clear message that the NFL acted swiftly once the fight broke out. Branch was clearly viewed as the one who initiated the altercation.

Branch took a hit to the back before the fight

It’s worth noting that earlier in the game, Branch had taken a hit to the back from JuJu Smith-Schuster. He reportedly complained in the locker room afterward that the referee didn’t call anything, which appeared to fuel his frustration—especially after the Lions’ loss to the Chiefs.

As of now, Smith-Schuster is not expected to face any punishment or fine. The NFL hasn’t commented on the matter, though many around the league believe the incident wouldn’t have escalated if Smith-Schuster hadn’t gone after Branch following the helmet hit from the Lions defender.

After the game, Campbell didn’t hold back, delivering a firm message about the altercation: “I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not gonna be accepted here,” he said, starting his press conference following what was only the team’s second loss of the season.

Campbell emphasized that such behavior doesn’t represent what the Lions stand for under his leadership. He apologized to Andy Reid and Smith-Schuster, doubling down on his stance during his postgame remarks: “That’s not okay. That’s not what we do here. It’s not gonna be okay.”

It is one of the few times Dan Campbell has spoken with a subdued tone following a Lions loss, and this time, it was not solely about the defeat. At least Branch himself spoke after the game, confessing that his actions toward Smith-Schuster were “quite immature.”

Could Campbell take direct action against Branch?

It is definitely something that could happen. When a player performs poorly on the field, the head coach or any other coach can bench them for a period. This has happened to other players who have had poor performances with fumbles or issues off the field and were sidelined temporarily.

However, the decision regarding fines and potential game checks for Branch’s actions will not be made by Campbell. The coach knows he risks losing a defensive asset who provided 109 tackles and 4 interceptions last season and already had 26 tackles this year, making his absence a significant blow to the defense.

Even if Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have a unique way of always getting to big games, there’s no denying that, at times, the Kansas City Chiefs have felt short of weapons. Now, that might be changing as their star quarterback is excited of things to come for the upcoming NFL season.

Last year, the seven biblical plagues fell upon the Chiefs‘ offensive roster. Rashee Rice was out most of the season with a knee injury, Hollywood Brown missed pretty much all season injured as well. Their running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a broken leg as well… You get the drill.

Now, not only are those Chiefs players coming back, but also some of the replacements they used last year will still be there. Out of nowhere, the Chiefs went from slim to stacked. Mahomes is loving it.

“Obviously, you’ve got Rashee being back. He looks great. You have Xavier Worthy, who came on so strong at the end of last year. You have Hollywood Brown healthy again. Guys everywhere. You add in Travis Kelce, a Hall of Famer. Noah Gray, a great tight end, and everybody that we’ve added to all those different rooms. We have so many weapons. Let’s go out there and just maximize it all,” Mahomes told Kay Adams on her Up & Adams show. The Chiefs will be a problem.

As if the Chiefs needed more motivation

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t take losing well. Every time they’ve lost a postseason game with Mahomes as quarterback, they’ve come back next year and win it all. But now, you add all these weapons to the roster, to a vengeance-seeking Mahomes? This is gonna get rough for the NFL.

Last year, with all the injuries, the Chiefs were still a top 10 offense. That right there is scary. Remember, their head coach is Andy Reid, one of the most creative play-callers in the NFL.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive depth chart

These are the offensive weapons Patrick Mahomes will get for the 2025 NFL season:

• Running Backs: Isiah Pacheco / Kareem Hunt / Elijah Mitchell
• Wide Receivers: Xavier Worthy / Hollywood Brown / Rashee Rice / Skyy Moore / JuJu Smith-Schuster
• Tight Ends: Travis Kelce, Noah Gray

Andy Reid‘s team is just one step away from making history in the NFL, but it won’t be easy. Standing in their way are the tough Eagles, who will do everything they can to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The showdown will take place next Sunday, February 9th, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Smith-Schuster is still riding the high from the victory over the Buffalo Bills, though they’re slowly starting to shift focus to the final game. In statements to the press, the wide receiver expressed his joy about reaching this point once again and warned his opponents about what’s to come.

“It’s another great feeling, man. It’s a blessing to be out here. God is so good. It’s a blessing to be apart of this team, this organization, it’s something special. We never give up. We play all four quarters. We play our hearts out and that’s what it takes. We like to play in big moments and we don’t shy away from them,“ Smith-Schuster said to FOX4KC anchor Harold Kuntz in a post-game interview.

Patrick Mahomes and his teammates once again showed at Arrowhead why they are serious title contenders, narrowly defeating Josh Allen’s team. Now, it’s time to physically recover their players and fully focus on what lies ahead in the upcoming Super Bowl.

It won’t be easy to achieve that goal, as Jalen Hurts’ Eagles have proven to be a tough team throughout the regular season and in the playoffs. Led by Nick Sirianni, they dominated the Commanders in the conference final and are also focused on capturing the title.

Smith-Schuster’s trophy cabinet

After his college football career with USC, JuJu Smith-Schuster was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking his first experience in the NFL. In the 2022-23 season, the wide receiver was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he achieved his greatest professional accomplishment, winning a Super Bowl.

The interesting tidbit about this achievement is that the Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles. At that time, Andy Reid’s team triumphed 38-35 over Nick Sirianni’s squad in a thrilling game held in Glendale, Arizona.

The key to victory according to Xavier Worthy

Xavier Worthy was one of Patrick Mahomes’ most relied-upon weapons in the victory over the Bills. The former Longhorns player used his physical abilities to full effect, taking advantage of the weak coverage against him throughout the game.

When asked by the press about the key to securing Chiefs‘ win, Worthy was clear: “They skipped on me,” Worthy told KCTV5’s Marleah Campbell. “That’s their loss.”

The 27-year-old spent the 2022 season in Kansas City, where he helped the team win Super Bowl LVII, before leaving for the New England Patriots as a free agent in 2023. Back on Andy Reid’s team, a string of injuries saw him get more opportunities.

With both Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rashee Rice on the sidelines, Smith-Schuster is seen as one of the Chiefs’ most reliable healthy pass catchers alongside rookie wideout Xavier Worthy. However, Smith-Schuster believes Kelce still deserves plenty of respect.

“You have a guy like him (Travis Kelce) who’s so impactful on the field. It’s, I mean, in my opinion, I think it’s amazing. I think it’s great,” Smith-Schuster said of Kelce, via Chiefs Wire. “He’s getting to the double team. He’s getting the ones, their best player, to cover him. And that kind of just opens as a receiver group and other guys who get open an opportunity like that. So with him, he’s (a) very smart player. So he knows how to play in space, knowing when it’s man (coverage), when it’s zone, something that’s pretty cool.”

Kelce, 35, is without any doubt the most prominent name in Mahomes’ offense, but his slow start to the 2024 NFL season saw many question his importance in the unit. Smith-Schuster may get to enjoy a bigger role now that other wideouts are injured, but he considers it’d be a mistake to overlook the tight end who helped Mahomes win three Super Bowls in Kansas City.

Andy Reid sees similarities between Smith-Schuster, Kelce

While the offensive injuries suffered by the Chiefs at the start of the 2024 NFL season has fans concerned, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made it clear to GM Brett Veach and Mahomes that he believes in the team’s current pass catchers.

In fact, Reid has drawn parallels between Smith-Schuster and Kelce: “The guy opposite Kelce ends up being very important, they know how to play the game and can kind of do similar things that Kelce can do. If you can get that, you’ve got something going offensively that way.”

According to the Chiefs head coach, Smith-Schuster’s rise is not only great news because of the WR injuries, but also because it provides Mahomes with a weapon similar to Kelce when the tight end is covered.

“So he (Smith-Schuster) did that before, (Byron) Pringle did that beforehand. We’ve had guys in those spots that could do that,” Reid said. “So that’s a positive thing. Anyways, JuJu is good with it, and there are similar things. They’re doing similar things.”

Not only has the head coach shown full support every time he’s been asked about the tight end, but Reid also believes the Chiefs already have a weapon that can make a similar impact on the field.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Reid claimed that player is none other than wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster: “The guy opposite Kelce ends up being very important, they know how to play the game and can kind of do similar things that Kelce can do. If you can get that, you’ve got something going offensively that way.”

The veteran wideout returned to Kansas City this season after leaving for the New England Patriots in 2023. Last time out, Smith-Schuster went off with seven catches for 130 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 5 over the Saints. Kelce trailed him with nine receptions for 70 yards, but overall, Reid considers both are capable of making similar plays for Mahomes.

“So he (Smith-Schuster) did that before, (Byron) Pringle did that beforehand. We’ve had guys in those spots that could do that,” Reid said, via Chiefs Wire. “So that’s a positive thing. Anyways, JuJu is good with it, and there are similar things. They’re doing similar things.”

A challenging start to 2024 NFL season for Kelce on Chiefs

Kelce’s slow start with the Chiefs gave plenty to talk about in the opening weeks of the 2024 NFL season. The coach has constantly made it clear he didn’t care about the stats, as he feels the tight end plays a key role in the offense even when the numbers don’t suggest that.

The 35-year-old didn’t look worried in all these weeks either, even if his competitive nature sometimes makes him feel bad. But Kelce also admitted his chemistry with Mahomes may not be the same as in previous years.

Defenses paying too much attention to Kelce prevents the quarterback from finding the tight end as much as they would like to, but it also allows Mahomes to find other pass catchers open. This has been the case in 2024.

Kelce finding more chemistry with Mahomes as Chiefs suffer key losses

Regardless, the Mahomes-Kelce connection has increased in the last two weeks after Rashee Rice’s injury. Now that Reid seemed to confirmed the Chiefs will lose the star wideout for the rest of the season, the tight end is expected to catch even more passes from the quarterback.

Kelce already had a big game in Week 4 and got even more involved in Week 5, where Smith-Schuster also raised his hand. On Sunday, the 49ers will present a huge test to the Chiefs’ offense. Will Kelce and Smith-Schuster once again step up for Reid and Mahomes?

The 27-year-old, who rejoined the team in August after a year with the New England Patriots, led the Chiefs with 130 receiving yards on seven catches. It was a statement performance by the wideout after Rashee Rice’s injury.

Speaking to the media after the game, Smith-Schuster let Reid know he’s always ready for these kinds of opportunities, while claiming that he’s extremely happy to be part of the Chiefs again.

“I think when the opportunity presents itself, I want to step up,” Smith-Schuster said, via Sports Illustrated. “I love the adversity. I love being down. I love the doubts. I’ve always bet on myself. I came here on a one-year deal, bet on myself and it worked out for me. Coming back here was kind of like a no-brainer. I love the pressure my teammates put on me, [it] helps make me a better person.”

After five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith-Schuster joined the Chiefs as a free agent in 2022. He went on to win Super Bowl LVII with Reid and Mahomes, but decided to pursue a bigger contract in 2023 free agency.

Smith-Schuster open to any role on the Chiefs

The Patriots met Smith-Schuster’s salary expectations by then, handing the wideout a three-year, $33 million deal. However, nothing went according to plan on the field, which is why he left the team this offseason.

Now that he’s back in Kansas City, the USC product revealed how he processed his failed stint in Foxborough. And just in case there was any doubt, Smith-Schuster made it clear to Reid that he was willing to accept any role on the team.

“After I got released, I kind of just waited patiently,” Smith-Schuster said. “When Andy Reid called, he told me, ‘We can put you [in] a little package deal.’ Even just that, coming back to a place like here, I was OK with that. I was OK being the leader in the room, I was OK with just being the guy to try to help our young guys to get right.“

Smith-Schuster credits Reid for great game with Chiefs

With Rice and Hollywood Brown injured, the Chiefs have lost key pieces at wide receiver. Additionally, Mahomes is missing his starting running back in Isiah Pacheco, but Kareem Hunt has already filled in that role.

Smith-Schuster’s latest performance suggests he could be a dependable target on the passing game, but he believes Reid deserves credit for his most recent appearance: “To be honest, he just knows how to put guys in position. He knows how to, basically, use their strength on the field, and he exposes that. I think that’s something that, being here, I was able to do that. Like I said, I’m just super blessed. It’s an honor to be here.”

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Both players, in fact, posted better numbers than Kelce in the Chiefs’ recent Monday night win over the Saints. However, Reid and Mahomes have nothing to worry about, as the veteran tight end is happy to see these familiar faces settle in so quickly.

“Well, both of these guys are familiar with the offense,” Kelce said on the latest episode of the ‘New Heights’ podcast with his brother Jason. “They’re familiar with the scheme. I think they’re familiar with the nucleus of the coaching staff and the players that we’ve got here.“

Hunt built on a strong performance in Week 4 with even better production in Week 5, recording 102 yards for a touchdown on 27 carries. Smith-Schuster, meanwhile, led the Chiefs in the air with 130 yards on seven catches. As for Kelce, the tight end had one of his best games in the 2024 NFL season with nine receptions for 70 yards.

“Honestly, it just felt like we got our guys back in the building. There was no, like, ‘Alright, let’s ease them into it.’ It was like, no, they’re ready to rock and roll right now. JuJu’s won a Super Bowl with us, Kareem’s had unbelievable success in this offense before. So I think when it comes down to what Coach Reid is going to call, everybody’s very familiar on how to have success with it,” Kelce added.

Hunt, Smith-Schuster enjoy best game in years after Chiefs reunion

Both Hunt and Smith-Schuster reunited with Reid, Mahomes, and Kelce this year as the Chiefs were forced to make offensive additions. While the wideout was a free agency signing to complete the WR room, the running back rejoined Kansas City to fill the vacancy left by Isiah Pacheco’s injury in Week 2.

And it turns out that Monday’s game was their best performance in a very long time. Benjamin Solak of ESPN notes that Smith-Schuster‘s 130 yards are his most in a game since a 2021 Wild Card game with the Steelers, which took place 1,366 days before the Chiefs’ win over New Orleans. In addition, Hunt’s 102 rushing yards were his most since a 2020 season game with the Browns 1,422 days ago.

Before the season opener, the Chiefs lost Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to a sternoclavicular joint dislocation sustained in preseason. The veteran wideout was eventually followed on Injured Reserve by starting running back Isiah Pacheco, who picked up a fractured fibula in Week 2. To make matters worse, Reid saw Kansas City’s primary wide receiver go down when Mahomes accidentally injured Rashee Rice in Week 4.

But before looking for outside options in the market, the Chiefs decided to give a chance to the other WRs on the roster in Week 5. Juju Smith-Schuster made the most of that opportunity, making an impression on both the head coach and quarterback in the Monday night win over the Saints.

“JuJu’s a good football player,” Reid said of the veteran pass catcher. “He’s been a good football player for a long time. He had the one down in the end zone that got tipped, and he felt terrible about that. Then he comes back with two huge ones. He’s a pro and does a great job with that.”

Mahomes also made sure to heap praise on Smith-Schuster, who only trailed Travis Kelce in targets last time out: “He has a good feel for the entire concept of the play. So he knows how to get into the open spots, he has a good understanding of my timing, so some of those things, I can hit him early in some windows maybe that aren’t necessarily taught, it’s just learned over reps.”

Smith-Schuster stepping up for the Chiefs a great sign for Reid, Mahomes

Smith-Schuster returned to Kansas City as a free agent this offseason after leaving for the New England Patriots last year. After going practically unnoticed in the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, he finally had a breakout game in Week 5.

On Monday night, the 27-year-old made seven catches for 130 yards. His only drop came in the red zone and ended in a turnover, but it wasn’t enough to overshadow his great performance.

Since Reid made it clear to Mahomes after Rice’s injury that he didn’t want the Chiefs to rely solely on rookie Xavier Worthy, Smith-Schuster’s latest appearance could offer some relief.

Smith-Schuster happy to be back with Mahomes, Reid at Chiefs

As Reid sent the Chiefs a special message after the win, Smith-Schuster made sure to credit the coach for his recent performance. Besides, he let everyone know how happy he feels about being back in Kansas City.

“After I got released, I kind of just waited patiently,” Smith-Schuster said. “When Andy Reid called, he told me, ‘We can put you [in] a little package deal.’ Even just that, coming back to a place like here, I was OK with that. I was OK being the leader in the room, I was OK with just being the guy to try to help our young guys to get right. I think when the opportunity presents itself, I want to step up. I love the adversity. I love being down. I love the doubts. I’ve always bet on myself. I came here on a one-year deal, bet on myself and it worked out for me. Coming back here was kind of like a no-brainer. I love the pressure my teammates put on me, [it] helps make me a better person.”

Veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is back with the Chiefs only a year after leaving Kansas City for the New England Patriots, where things didn’t go to plan. With Week 1 just around the corner, Mahomes can’t take wait to be throwing passes to the 27-year-old again.

“It’s super exciting,” Mahomes told reporters on Sunday about having Smith-Schuster back in Kansas City. “Just the person, man. Being in the locker room, being in the meeting rooms? He gets it, man. He gets how to be a pro. And then he works hard. He’s out here; he looks great.“

Smith-Schuster spent only one season with Mahomes in Kansas City, but it was enough for them to celebrate a Super Bowl win together. Their reunion therefore looks exciting, though the quarterback has made it clear Smith-Schuster still has to learn a few things he missed in the 2023 NFL season.

“I’m excited for him just to continue to learn the little things that we changed in the year that he wasn’t there, but he’s picked up a lot of the stuff really fast, and it’s good to have that type of guy in that receiver room,” Mahomes added.

JuJu Smith-Schuster feels ready to contribute to Mahomes, Chiefs

Even though Mahomes suggested Smith-Schuster has still to get on the same page in a few things, the veteran wideout has let everyone know his adjustment to the team won’t be a problem.

“Just very familiar with the offense,” Smith-Schuster said. “Very familiar with Andy Reid, Pat (Mahomes), the guys. Just being in this facility kind of makes your job easier than going to somewhere new where you’ve kind of got to learn everything pretty quickly. I think the hardest part for an offensive player is going to a new system and having to study a whole new playbook. Being in New England, I studied two offensive playbooks. Being familiar with this playbook, yeah.”

Mahomes will have other targets above Smith-Schuster at Chiefs

Smith-Schuster will be running from behind other offensive players on the depth chart, though. While Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is injured, the Chiefs will still count on the likes of second-year WR Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy.

Andy Reid also believes the Chiefs’ secret weapon could be veteran wideout Justin Watson, while former Joe Burrow and Russell Wilson teammate Samaje Perine is expected to offer a new alternative at running back behind Isiah Pacheco. Meanwhile, Mahomes will continue to count on his favorite partner, star tight end Travis Kelce.

Back in 2022, the USC product played a key role in Mahomes’ offense en route to the Chiefs‘ Super Bowl LVII victory. However, the expectations for the wideout are different this season.

Since he failed to make much of an impact in Foxborough and the Chiefs will have other weapons above him on the depth chart, even Smith-Schuster has made it clear that his stats this season may not be similar to those from 2022.

“You have so many guys in this offense, where you can do so many things,” Smith-Schuster said in his first press conference after returning to Kansas City, via Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.

“For me, it’s not so much about numbers, it’s about where I can be used and fit,” Smith-Schuster added. “I wasn’t here during training camp with these guys, so being able to come back here and be familiar with the offensive coordinator, head coach, and Pat, it made my job a lot easier.”

Chiefs have new weapons for Mahomes in 2024

Smith-Schuster’s return to Arrowhead gives the Chiefs more depth at wide receiver, where other players are expected to be Mahomes’ main weapons throughout the 2024 season.

Since the WR room – except for rookie wideout Rashee Rice – failed to help Mahomes in 2023, the team has completely revamped the group with interesting additions before bringing back JuJu.

Veteran wideout Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown arrived in free agency before the Chiefs traded up in the 2024 NFL Draft to get Xavier Worthy in the first round, increasing Mahomes’ options besides Rice.

Smith-Schuster lets Mahomes, Reid know Chiefs can still trust in him

After an unsuccessful stint in New England, Smith-Schuster explained how hard it is for a wide receiver to learn a new playbook. But he made it clear to Mahomes and Reid this won’t be a problem for him in Kansas City.

“I’m very familiar with the offense,” Smith-Schuster said. “I’m very familiar with (head coach) Andy Reid, [quarterback Patrick Mahomes], the guys. Being in this facility makes your job a lot easier than going somewhere new where you have to learn everything pretty quickly.”