Tensions flared late in the first half of the Detroit Lions’ 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday as Washington’s Daron Payne was ejected for punching Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Well after the end of a 13-yard touchdown run by the Lions, Payne was seen on the FOX broadcast delivering a punch to St. Brown’s helmet.
During a subsequent interaction, fellow Washington D-lineman Javon Kinlaw was penalized with unsportsmanlike conduct for hitting an official.
Following the game, Kinlaw expressed some remorse for his reaction and how it affected his team as they found themselves trailing by three scores at the time.
However, Kinlaw felt that Payne was justified, because he claims St. Brown delivered the first punch.
“Daron only retaliated because the refs literally saw the first punch. I don’t blame him for the way he reacted,” Kinlaw told reporters in the Washington locker room. “Tempers got to flying, it is what it is, it’s a physical game. (Expletive) happens. On my end I’ve just got to be smarter in certain situations and protect the team.”
When asked to confirm that he saw St. Brown hit Payne, Kinlaw reiterated that he did and the referees did, as well.
“Yeah, for sure,” Kinlaw said. “And they did, too. (Expletive) was some bull-(expletive), 100%.”
While no further camera angles of St. Brown punching Payne at any point were shown, St. Brown said that he got in a “little scuffle” with him a few plays before that moment.
“We got in a little scuffle, back and forth, whatever, this and that, the other, and then we ended 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. I mean, it is what it is.”
The penalties led to the Lions going for a two-point conversion in the second quarter, running the score up to 22-3. The Lions finished with 546 total yards of offense after torching a depleted Commanders defense that continued to suffer without Payne and numerous other players available.
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