The 2025 season has been a nightmare for the Commanders, who entered Week 10 with a 3-6 record before the Detroit Lions demolished them 44-22. But that was not all. During the second quarter against the Lions on Sunday, Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne was ejected after punching Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the helmet. In a post-game interview, St. Brown has now provided his own perspective on the confrontation.

“I think two plays before that, we got into a little scuffle, back and forth, whatever, this, that, and the other, and then we end up scoring, and I go up to him. I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me. So, it is what it is,” wrote the Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala on X.

The punch occurred after Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored a 13-yard touchdown, extending Detroit’s lead to 22-3 following an extra point. While Payne was clearly the one who threw the punch, teammates offered a different perspective on what transpired.

Javon Kinlaw, Washington’s fellow defensive tackle, defended Payne in the aftermath, claiming that Amon-Ra St. Brown initiated physical contact first.

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Kinlaw himself received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moments later after aggressively pushing a referee’s arm away during the resulting scrum. In the postgame press conference, head coach Dan Quinn addressed the mounting frustration gripping the team after another loss that has now pushed them to a 3-7 record.

“It wasn’t spilling into the locker room, but I get the frustration,” Quinn said. “But we’ve gotta find a way to channel our frustration better or different than that.”

The Commanders already entered the game severely depleted, missing starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (dislocated left elbow from Week 9) and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin (due to a quad injury). And now, after the league decided on Payne, the Commanders’ depth chart is shaking.

Daron Payne faces suspension after punching Amon-Ra St. Brown

The league has now suspended Daron Payne for one game for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown. Payne has violated NFL rules on unsportsmanlike conduct, specifically Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, concerning an “act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” and Rule 12, Section 2, Article 14(d), which prohibits striking the head or neck area with an arm or hand.

The suspension will cause Payne to miss the Commanders’ upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins, a significant blow to the team’s defensive line. Against the Detroit Lions, the Washington defense surrendered a total of 546 yards, their highest so far this season.

Payne’s suspension comes shortly after linebacker Frankie Luvu received a one-game suspension for repeated hip-drop tackle violations, which was later overturned on appeal and reduced to a $100,000 fine. Washington has already suffered a fifth consecutive loss. So, the upcoming week 11 game presents a big challenge as they attempt to get back on track this season before heading to the bye.