Daron Payne’s frustration boiled over shockingly on Sunday. The Washington Commanders defensive tackle punched Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the face/neck area after St. Brown scored a touchdown, drawing an immediate ejection during Washington’s Week 10 home game.
Commanders Defensive Leader Daron Payne Ejected After Punching Amon-Ra St. Brown (Image via X/ChadwikoTWW)
Commanders Defensive Leader Daron Payne Ejected After Punching Amon-Ra St. Brown (Image via X/ChadwikoTWW)
The incident occurred after St. Brown’s touchdown put Detroit up 14-3 with 1:54 left in the first quarter. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Pro Bowler struck the 5-foot-11, 200-pound NFL All-Pro receiver while he was walking by, shocking viewers with the unprovoked violence.
Payne will face a hefty fine when the NFL’s GameDay Accountability team reviews the incident this week. The ejection compounds Washington’s problems as they entered the game losers of four consecutive games with a 3-5 record.
Chad Ryan, a Commanders reporter,wrote on X that “Yeahhhh you can’t do that. That was stupid, especially from a veteran. The frustration of these players is boiling over.”
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
Robert Griffin III called for severe punishment beyond just the ejection. “As a leader of Washington’s defense, Daron Payne should know better than to throw a punch on the field,” the former Commanders quarterback wrote on his official X account. “He should be suspended. There is no place for this in sports.”
Barstool Sports was more blunt in their assessment. “Daron Payne (dumbass) has been ejected,” theywrote on their official X account.
Daron Payne (dumbass) has been ejected
pic.twitter.com/53On9i27RA
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 9, 2025
The chaos didn’t end with Payne’s ejection. Fellow defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty immediately afterward for making contact with a referee.
Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic captured the defensive meltdown. “Daron Payne punched Amon-Ra St. Brown and Javon Kinlaw hit an official,” shewrote on her official X account. “The defense is imploding.”
Daron Payne punched Amon-Ra St. Brown and Javon Kinlaw hit an official. The defense is imploding.
But hey, Chris Rodriguez just scored. pic.twitter.com/ZftbZFDiBz
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 9, 2025
Josh Taylor, a Commanders reporter, expressed frustration with both players. “Daron Payne was ejected for throwing a right hook at Amon-Ra St.Brown, and Kinlaw pushed the official after the 2-pt conversion and is honestly lucky he wasn’t ejected too,” Taylor wrote on his official X account. “Absolutely embarrassing by this defense.”
With the GameDay Accountability review looming, Payne faces probable discipline and a hefty fine. Losing a veteran presence in the middle only deepens Washington’s problems and leaves a defense already on the brink with even less margin for error.
Expensive Defensive Line Crumbling Under Pressure
Washington made the unusual decision to pay big money to a pair of interior defensive linemen who aren’t regarded as playing at an elite level. Payne signed a 4-year, $90 million contract extension in 2023, while Kinlaw signed a 3-year, $45 million free agent contract in March.
Those investments are producing ugly results as the season spirals out of control. The Commanders made it to the NFC Championship Game last year for the first time since 1991, but things have fallen apart just one season later.
Washington’s two best players from last season have missed huge chunks of this year with injuries. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has a dislocated elbow, while wide receiver Terry McLaurin deals with a quad injury. It’s not clear when either will return.
The remaining schedule offers little hope for a turnaround. Washington travels to Madrid, Spain, to face the resurgent Miami Dolphins in Week 11 before a bye in Week 12. They come home to face the Denver Broncos, arguably the NFL’s hottest team, in Week 13.
The last month closes with two games against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the final three weeks.