A video of Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown appearing to strike Commanders DT Daron Payne, before Payne’s ejection for punching St. Brown two plays later, surfaced on social media Tuesday — adding a new wrinkle to the situation.
The video, shared by Payne on Instagram on Tuesday and others on X, comes on the heels of Payne’s ejection — and subsequent one-game suspension — for punching St. Brown in the second quarter of the Commanders’ 44-22 loss to the Lions on Sunday. It shows St. Brown and Payne shoving one another after a play, before St. Brown appears to strike Payne right in front of an official. After the game, Commanders DT Javon Kinlaw told reporters that St. Brown swung first, calling the way it was handled, “bulls–––.”
St. Brown commented on the sequence of events after the game.
“I mean, 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,” St. Brown said after the game. “I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me. So, I mean, it is what it is.”
When reached for comment, an NFL spokesperson stated that every play of every game is reviewed. If a violation of health and safety-related rules is found, even if no foul was called on the field, a player would be subject to discipline. All fines are posted on the NFL Football Operations website Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m. ET.
At this point in the week, it seems unlikely St. Brown would face a suspension — like Payne. It’s possible he could be fined Saturday, but outside of that, he’s likely to avoid further discipline.
The Lions (6-3) travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles (7-2) this weekend at 8:20 p.m. ET on “Sunday Night Football.”