Daron Payne suspension: New video appears to show Amon-Ra St. Brown swinging at Commanders DL first

The NFL suspended Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne one game for punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during Sunday’s Week 10 matchup. However, Payne posted new video on his Instagram which appears to show that St. Brown threw the first strike just a couple of plays before Payne retaliated and got himself ejected.

Here’s the video of Amon-Ra St. Brown swinging on Daron Payne a few plays before Payne swung back and got ejected. This tells the other side of the story. pic.twitter.com/M7jUH9zcGr

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 11, 2025

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.

Moments later, Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for making contact with an official. After the game, a 44-22 Lions victory, Kinlaw defended Payne. He claimed that St. Brown punched Payne first.

“Daron only retaliated because the refs literally saw the first punch,” Kinlaw said after the game. “I don’t blame him for the way he reacted. Tempers got to flying. I mean, it is what it is — it’s a physical game; sh*t happens. But, on my end, I just got to be smarter in some situations and protect the team.”

Daron Payne suspension: Amon-Ra St. Brown speaks out on incident

Kinlaw added that the officials saw St. Brown’s punch, though they did nothing but separate him from Payne: “Yeah, for sure, and they [officials] did, too. It was some bullsh*t. 100%.” St. Brown confirmed that two plays later, he got into a “scuffle” with Payne.

“Two plays before that we got into a little scuffle, back and forth. Then we end up scoring, and I go up to him,” St. Brown said. “I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me.”

Payne appealed the suspension. It was upheld, and Payne won’t travel with the team to Madrid for the Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins.

Payne, 28, is in his eighth season with the Commanders. In 10 games this season, he has 30 tackles (12 solo), five PBUs, one sack and a forced fumble.