Commanders player's suspension is at the center of a new controversy

Issues seem to keep finding the Washington Commanders this season. Between a string of injuries that have hindered their progress and a series of suspensions, the team can’t seem to catch a break.

Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu faced a suspension for repeated hip-drop tackles, which was later reduced to a fine after his appeal. Then, during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, defensive tackle Daron Payne was ejected after throwing a punch at Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Payne’s Side

After the game, teammate Javon Kinlaw insisted that the wide receiver struck Payne first. Payne later posted a video appearing to show St. Brown throwing the initial punch. Now, St. Brown is speaking out and sharing his side of the story.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

St. Brown Explains How It Started

On a recent episode of his St. Brown Podcast, the star wide receiver explained that the confrontation began two plays before Payne threw the punch.

“Two plays before that I’m blocking, um, I believe it was number 20,” said St. Brown, referring to Commanders safety Quan Martin.

“He is lowkey driving me, he got me, he got under me, and he’s driving me back into the pile,” he continued. “The play is kind of dead and he drives me down. I mean good play by him.”

Things Escalate Between St. Brown and Payne

As St. Brown continued, he said that was when things started to go wrong. “I get up and he’s talking to me, whatever, I wasn’t even saying much and Payne comes out and bumps me,” according to St. Brown.

Amon-Ra St Brown on the altercation between him & Daron Payne:

“Payne comes out and bumps me, I’m like what the f**k? So I hit him and he starts talking s**t. Then I hit him again, I accidentally hit him in the face…”

(via:@StBrownPodcast) pic.twitter.com/9e0irRfC09
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) November 12, 2025

The bump from Payne left St. Brown confused. “I’m like what the f**k?” he said. St. Brown admitted that after that, he hit Payne and that Payne started talking trash. “Then I hit him again, I accidentally hit him in the face,” St. Brown admitted. “I didn’t mean to jab him in the face, I just meant to push him off and I so happen to hit him in the face.”

Officials appeared to miss the initial exchange, as no flag was thrown on St. Brown. Payne’s retaliation, however, drew a penalty resulting in his ejection and a subsequent suspension.

St. Brown Owns Up, But Payne Still Suspended

St. Brown acknowledged his role in the altercation. “At that point I was like I shouldn’t have done that. Probably a flag, the ref was standing right there, he didn’t throw the flag, so that’s that.”

What St. Brown didn’t anticipate was Payne’s response two plays later. Despite the release of video footage and now with St. Brown’s own account of events, Payne’s appeal was denied. As a result, he will remain suspended and is ineligible to suit up against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Stick with CommanderGameday and the Locked On Commanders podcast for more FREE coverage of the Washington Commanders throughout the 2025 season.

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