Commanders DT Daron Payne suspended one game for punching Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown

The NFL has announced a one-game suspension for Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne. He punched Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during their loss on Sunday afternoon.

Payne was ejected in the second quarter for the incident, which occurred after Lions tailback David Montgomery went into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion. St. Brown was walking by Payne to the sideline when the latter threw a massive right hand seemingly out of nowhere.

The defensive lineman was thrown out of the game on the spot. Now, the NFL is putting their foot down, not allowing this moment to go unchecked.

“Washington Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne has been suspended without pay for one game for an act of unsportsmanlike conduct during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions,” the NFL’s statement read. “During the second quarter, Payne was disqualified for striking Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” including “throwing a punch, or a forearm,” and Rule 12, Section 2, Article 14(d), which prohibits “striking, swinging at, or clubbing the head or neck of an opponent with the wrists), arm(s), elbow(s), or hand(s).

“Payne will be eligible to return to the Commanders’ active roster on Monday, Nov. 17, following the team’s Nov. 16 game in Madrid against the Miami Dolphins. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Payne may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided upon by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.”

The Commanders are already facing a pivotal moment in their season, and now they’ll have to move forward without one of their best players for at least one more week. While the Lions stomped Washington out at home, the NFC East franchise certainly has a shot to win in Week 11.

Alas, it may all be for naught though, as the health of quarterback Jayden Daniels is paramount to the team’s success. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota can only take the team so far.

No matter who the quarterback is though, the Commanders would like to have Payne on the field. He’ll miss at least this coming week’s game, and hopefully he’ll have learnt his lesson from the entire process afterwards.