Just over 24 hours before Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium in Houston, Brian Branch is $20,256 lighter. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the NFL has fined Detroit Lions safeties twice — $10,128 each — for actions in last Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.

With the Lions leading 24-14 in the second quarter of their Week 9 matchup with the Packers, Branch was ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton. When he came off the field, the second-year safety turned on the Packers fans, awarding another 15-yard penalty to the Lions.

“It’s not something — I don’t want people to see me like that,” Branch said of the gesture. “It was just a heat of the moment thing. I apologize to everyone who saw this. It won’t happen again.”

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Although Branch wants to distance himself from the incident, his teammates used it to strengthen camaraderie in the locker room.

After Friday’s practice, Lions safety Kerby Joseph handed out T-shirts with a picture of Branch giving a two-finger salute. Defensive end Za’Darius Smith, a recent addition to the team, joined in on the fun, wearing the jersey on the sidelines at Friday’s Pistons-Hawks game at Little Caesars Arena.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said earlier in the week that he had received no further explanation for Branch’s ejection, only that it was ruled flagrant based on intent.

Tom Brady, seven-time Super Bowl champion and Fox NFL analyst expressed his disapproval of the call during the broadcastdespite the potential risk of controversy as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I don’t like that call at all,” Brady said. “Obviously it’s a penalty, but there has to be serious intent in a game like this.”

“He does so much for the Lions and they will have to adjust to losing their best defensive player, who they expected to have a big day today. He’s not an easy guy to replace, and Green Bay now has great field position without having to do much.”

Branch is enjoying a breakout season, tied for second-most interceptions in the NFL with four behind Joseph, who leads the league with six.

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