The NFL on Monday suspended Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch for one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct after he struck Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and set off a brief fight Sunday night.

"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 wrote in a letter to Branch. "Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game."

Branch plans to appeal the suspension, a source confirmed to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The appeal would be heard by a hearing officer jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

Branch is set to miss the Lions' ga

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