Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne has sought to defend his controversial punch at Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown by posting an Instagram story showing video evidence of the alleged initial incident.

According to the footage Payne shared, St. Brown threw the first punch during a heated exchange, with an official positioned directly nearby witnessing the confrontation. During the second quarter of Sunday’s lopsided 44-22 loss to the Lions, Payne was ejected after punching St. Brown in the helmet following Jahmyr Gibbs’ rushing touchdown. The NFL subsequently suspended the eight-year veteran for one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Following the game, even Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw had provided direct support for this narrative, telling reporters that officials witnessed St. Brown’s initial punch.​

“Yeah for sure, and they [saw it], too,” Kinlaw said of the refs. “It’s some bulls—. 100 percent. Daron retaliated. The refs literally saw the first punch. I don’t blame him for the way he reacted. Tempers got to flaring.”

However, St. Brown had offered a different version of events when speaking with media members. The Lions receiver explained that tension had been building between the players throughout the game.

He said, “I think two plays before that we got into a little scuffle, back and forth, whatever, this, that, and the other, and then we end up scoring, and I go up to him. I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me.”

The league’s suspension decision means Payne will miss Washington’s upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins. The timing is particularly damaging for the Commanders’ struggling defense.

Daron Payne’s absence exposes the Commanders’ defensive struggles

The loss of Payne, a key defensive tackle who signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension in March 2023, represents another setback for a team already dealing with injuries to starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and quarterback Jayden Daniels (dislocated left elbow).​

Following the loss, head coach Dan Quinn delivered a candid postgame assessment that reflected the gravity of the team’s defensive breakdown. He emphasized the consistency of the team’s execution failures, particularly the inability to generate takeaways when needed.

“Yeah, we’re all obviously disappointed, like just execution, not creating takeaways,” Quinn stated.

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Quinn explicitly acknowledged that the Commanders “sure as h*** aren’t coaching or playing up to [our] standards” and that the team was “way off” from expectations. The Commanders will now gear up for Week 11 to face the Dolphins, arriving off a 30-13 victory over Buffalo.

With Payne sidelined, Dan Quinn’s admission that the team is ‘way off’ its standards will be put to the test. The Commanders’ 29th-ranked scoring defense now faces a Dolphins offense coming off a 30-point performance, a matchup that starkly highlights the void left by their suspended defensive tackle.