Daron Payne ejected for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown during Lions vs. Commanders

The Washington Commanders are down one of their defensive veterans for the remainder of Sunday’s Week 10 home contest against the Detroit Lions. Defensive tackle Daron Payne was ejected in the second quarter for punching Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The incident 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. Payne was thrown out of the game on the spot.

Footage of the Daron Payne incident.

Yeahhhh you can't do that. That was stupid, especially from a veteran.

The frustration of these players is boiling over. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/wzT0m6VVfK

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) November 9, 2025

Former Commanders quarterback Robert Griffin III called out Payne on social media. He did not like what he saw from a team leader in Payne.

“As a leader of Washington’s defense, Daron Payne should know better than to throw a punch on the field,” Griffin wrote on X. “He should be suspended. There is no place for this in sports.”

Commanders down Daron Payne as they trail Lions in Week 10

Moments later, fellow defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw made contact with an official and was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Kinlaw will be fortunate to still be in the game and not watching from the locker room like Payne.

Payne, 28, is in his eighth season with the Commanders. He came into Sunday’s game with 30 tackles (12 solo), five PBUs, one sack and a forced fumble.

Washington dug itself a deep hole against Detroit, going down 22-3 early in the second quarter. They now trail 25-10 at the half, needing some second half heroics to pull out a win and avoid dropping to 3-7 on the season.