Emotions ran high during the Detroit Lions’ 44–22 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, when Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne was ejected after punching Detroit receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown late in the first half.

The altercation occurred following a 13-yard touchdown run by Detroit. As the play concluded, cameras on FOX captured Payne throwing a punch that connected with St. Brown’s helmet. Moments later, fellow Commanders lineman Javon Kinlaw was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after making contact with an official during the aftermath.

After the game, Kinlaw admitted that his actions hurt the team — which was already trailing by three scores — but said he believed Payne’s reaction was provoked.

“Daron only reacted because he got hit first,” Kinlaw told reporters in the locker room. “The refs saw it, too. Tempers flared, it’s football — things happen. I just need to be smarter and not put the team in a worse spot.”

When pressed by reporters to confirm that he saw St. Brown initiate the contact, Kinlaw doubled down.“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “And the officials saw it too. It was some bull—, 100 percent.”

Broadcast replays did not show any clear footage of St. Brown throwing a punch. However, the Lions receiver acknowledged that there had been some physical back-and-forth between him and Payne earlier in the drive.

“We got into a little scuffle — just some back-and-forth stuff,” St. Brown said after the game. “Then we scored, and I said something to him, nothing crazy, and he swung on me. It happens.”

The sequence led to additional penalties against Washington, allowing Detroit to attempt a two-point conversion that extended its lead to 22–3. The Lions’ offense never let up, piling up 546 total yards against a depleted Commanders defense that struggled after Payne’s ejection.