The Detroit Lions lost arguably their best defensive player to an ejection on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Safety Brian Branch was ejected for an unnecessary roughness penalty against Packers wide receiver Bo Melton in the second quarter with the Lions leading 7-3.

Quarterback Jordan Love bought time and tried to fit a shot down the sideline to Melton on second-and-20, but the pass sailed out of bounds. Branch launched and leveled Melton with a helmet-to-helmet hit that drew a flag.

The referees initially just flagged it as an unnecessary roughness, but then declared Branch out after talking with each other. Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino said the referees got live assistance from the NFL's replay officials in New York to elevate the call to an ejection.

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“This happened so late, this had to come from New York," Blandino said. "They’re looking at it, they decided that the hit raised to the level of a disqualification."

Branch has been a standout and key cog of the Lions' defense in his second season and first at safety. In the first six games, Branch had four interceptions, 38 tackles and one forced fumble to build on a rookie campaign where he finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Fox color commentator and Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady disagreed wholeheartedly with the ejection, saying it was a step too far for the play.

“I don’t love that call at all," Brady said. "I mean obviously it’s a penalty. But to me, that has to be serious intent in a game like this.

"They're gonna have to adjust the rest of the game losing their best defensive player, who I know they were expecting to have a huge day today. Not an easy guy to replace."

Last year, Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was ejected in September for a hit that flagged an unnecessary roughness call. Jackson got ejected from a game later in October and drew a four-game suspension from the NFL.

Later in the second half, Blandino was brought back on to explain the call further, and he said the league office determined intent didn't matter and Branch could've avoided a collision like that.

"So, we got clarification from the league office and it's not about intent," Blandino said. "In their view, they felt like Branch had an opportunity to avoid. He lowered his head, led with the shoulder to the head-neck-shoulder area. They felt that he had that option and they felt that it was flagrant and that's why ultimately they decided to eject."

The loss of Branch meant Brandon Joseph will see some action in the secondary alongside Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis. The Packers missed a field goal on the drive.

After a Lions field goal, Joseph pulled in his sixth interception of the season, tied for the league lead, and returned it 27 yards to the house for a 17-3 lead with 32 seconds left before halftime.

Alex Anzalone brought the pressure on Love, playing through a groin injury in the rain and slick conditions.

The Lions and Packers are battling for first place in the NFC at the halfway point of the season. The Lions (6-1) came in as slight favorites over the Packers (6-2), with the teams on winning streaks of five and four, respectively.

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The Lions are already shorthanded on defense. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is out with an ankle injury, defensive end Josh Paschal is out for the second straight game with an illness, and edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport along with linebacker Derrick Barnes are out for the season.

The Lions have less than two days to add to the roster with a trade. The NFL's trade deadline is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and the Lions are in the market to bolster the talent in the front seven to supplement some of those losses.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Brian Branch ejected from Lions Packers for big hit to head