Green Bay Packers star Tucker Kraft lost his helmet following a late hit from returning Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch, leading to calls on the NFL to issue a suspension.

The Packers headed to Detroit looking to improve their winning record following a 4-2 start. However, they came up against a strong Lions defense, bolstered by Branch’s return from an ACL injury. Branch has proven himself to be a versatile, good tackler since being taken by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

He was instrumental on Sunday as the Lions held onto a tight 20-17 victory to move to 4-2 on the season, boasting a 92.3 PFF Grade, three stops, and an interception. The game was overshadowed by a Lions player kicking and flooring the referee.

Despite his performance on Sunday, NFL fans are calling on the league to suspend Branch. With just over 3 minutes and 30 seconds left in the first quarter and the Lions leading by seven, Packers tight end Kraft made a huge catch on 4th and 2, and began charging toward the Lions' goal line.

Multiple Lions stars made an effort to take down Kraft, but it was Blanch’s that sparked outrage on social media. Blanch flew at Kraft, who was eventually grounded, making helmet-to-helmet contact. As a result, Kraft lost his helmet, but was okay to continue.

“Absolutely should’ve been a personal foul on Branch with his hit on Kraft at the end of the 4th down conversion,” one fan said on X.

“He went into that tackle with nothing but his helmet. Piece of actual s—-,” another fumed.

“That hit was completely unnecessary! Player safety must come first. The NFL needs to review it carefully and let the appropriate disciplinary action follow,” a third stated.

Inside the Lions locker room, the feeling is very different. There’s a sense of relief and excitement about Blanch’s return. Aidan Hutchinson hyped up Blanch’s “X-Factor.”

“Dude, he’s our tone setter. He's the guy that will come down and make a big hit. That’s his X-factor right there: he can change a game,” Hutchinson said.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell also hailed Blanch as a “great teammate,” with the Lions rocking and rolling in 2026. “That was a huge play. Everybody loves [Branch] because he’s a great teammate, and he’s a productive football player,” Campbell said on the pick. “He just can find the ball. He’s got a nose for it. But not only that, he knocked out some of those runs. He’s just a heck of a football player.”

“He’s done a lot. When you go through an injury like that, the amount of rehab and things that go into, all of that, to get back to where you are ready to play at a high level,” continued Campbell.

“In the NFL, top-tier talent, and to get back to some of what you are, and he’s not even fully back yet, as far as just the rust. Now, he’s healthy. It’s not that. But every rep he takes, he’s going to get better and better.”

The coach added: “He’s highly competitive. He wants to go. So, really, the hard thing was managing him in the first half. He was all over me, early. I said, ‘Listen, we just gotta be smart. See where you’re at.’ Then once we got into halftime, it felt like, ‘We’re good here.'”