KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Brian Branch has been suspended one game without pay after striking Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The Detroit Lions safety struck Smith-Schuster shortly after the final whistle blew on the team’s 30-17 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night. Branch set off a wild scene to end the night. He brushed off a handshake from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, then hit Smith-Schuster with an open hand as the receiver extended his hand, as well.

“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,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan said in a statement.

“Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place

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