Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch has had his one-game suspension without pay upheld after an attempted appeal, it was announced Wednesday night.

The discipline was handed down after the Lions starting safety struck Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster following Detroit’s 30-17 loss in Kansas City Sunday night.

He set off a small scuffle after brushing off a handshake from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, following the final whistle. Smith-Schuster appeared to take umbrage to the gesture and approached him with a hand extended and Branch proceeded to smack him with an open hand.

Lions coach Dan Campbell quickly called Branch’s actions “inexcusable” after the game and apologized to the Chiefs, coach Andy Reid and Smith-Schuster in his postgame press conference.

“He knows

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