The tension from Sunday’s showdown between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders still isn’t cooling off — and a newly released video is adding fuel to the fire. After Washington defensive lineman Daron Payne was thrown out of the game for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown, new footage offers a closer look at what actually sparked the altercation.
Payne’s Ejection Left Fans and Players Confused
Most viewers only saw the ending — Payne landing a punch on St. Brown shortly after a Lions touchdown, an easy call for officials to make. But after the game, Commanders defender Javon Kinlaw insisted that the story wasn’t so simple, claiming Payne was reacting, not instigating.
According to Kinlaw, St. Brown threw the first hit:“Daron only reacted because the refs saw the first punch,” Kinlaw told reporters. “I can’t blame him for defending himself.”
When asked directly if he saw St. Brown strike first, Kinlaw didn’t hesitate:“Yeah, for sure. And the refs did too. It was some bulls—, 100%.”
From Washington’s perspective, the referees missed the initial contact that should have drawn a flag, leaving Payne to take the fall for responding.
St. Brown didn’t confirm throwing a punch, though he admitted there was some back-and-forth leading up to the fight.“A couple plays earlier, we were going at it,” St. Brown explained. “Then we scored, I said something — nothing crazy — and he just swung on me… it happens.”
A New Angle Raises Questions — But No Clear Answers
On Tuesday, JP Finlay of NBC Washington shared a slow-motion clip that reignited the controversy. In the video, Payne and St. Brown can be seen jawing at each other as an official moves in between them. Just as the referee arrives, St. Brown appears to make a quick motion with his right hand toward Payne’s helmet.
Whether it was a full-blown punch or a shove disguised as one is up for debate, but the movement is unmistakable — enough for many Commanders fans to claim vindication for Payne.
What’s indisputable, however, is that Payne’s retaliation was far more obvious — and that’s what got him ejected.
Only One Player Paid the Price
The NFL suspended Payne on Monday for one game. His appeal was quickly denied, meaning he’ll sit out the Commanders’ Week 11 matchup against the Dolphins in Madrid.
.As for St. Brown, there’s been no indication of any league discipline. That’s not unusual — the NFL tends to punish the retaliator, not the instigator, particularly when the second punch is the one everyone sees. Even if St. Brown did make first contact, it’s common for the visible reaction to draw the harsher response.
Still, the video clearly shows that a penalty against St. Brown would have been justified had the officials caught it in real time.
What’s Next for Both Sides?
Most likely — nothing further. The league has already reviewed the incident, issued Payne’s suspension, and closed his appeal. St. Brown wasn’t penalized during the game, and the NFL hasn’t announced any additional review or fine.
Yet, as the clip circulates across social media, the argument over who actually started the skirmish isn’t going away anytime soon. The internet rarely lets things die quietly — and both fanbases now have their own “proof” to back their side of the story.
