Tensions ran high late in Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders, eventually boiling over when defensive tackle Daron Payne threw a punch at wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The swing seemed to come out of nowhere, likely out of pure frustration as Washington struggled to slow down Detroit’s explosive offense. Unsurprisingly, Payne received a one-game suspension for his actions.

However, new information has surfaced that paints a different picture of the confrontation. Grant Paulson of 106.7 The Fan shared a clip originally posted on Payne’s Instagram that shows what led up to the punch. In the video, Payne and St. Brown bump into each other as the Commanders are regrouping in the huddle. St. Brown appears irritated by the contact and reaches out to hit Payne first—an action that seemingly provoked the retaliatory punch that got Payne suspended.

While Payne’s reaction was clearly excessive, the footage raises questions about whether St. Brown might also face discipline from the league. The NFL came down hard on Payne, and with this new angle circulating online, it’s possible St. Brown could face a smaller punishment of his own.

That said, it’s important to recognize that Payne initiated the contact by running into St. Brown, who merely responded in the heat of the moment. Because St. Brown’s response wasn’t particularly forceful or malicious, the league is unlikely to suspend him. Instead, he may be hit with a fine to settle the matter quickly—especially with the Lions set to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, one of the NFL’s marquee matchups of the week.

Still, Payne’s decision to publicize the clip has likely put St. Brown on the league’s radar. Detroit has already dealt with disciplinary issues earlier in the season—such as safety Brian Branch’s one-game suspension—and will now have to manage this situation just as carefully.

The Lions are known for their fiery, aggressive play style, and St. Brown’s reaction reflected that competitive edge. If the league decides to penalize him financially, the team will simply treat it as another lesson in composure. Head coach Dan Campbell will almost certainly use the incident to reinforce accountability, ensuring it doesn’t distract the Lions from their strong season ahead.