How Long is Commanders DT Daron Payne Suspended For After Punching Amon-Ra St. Brown?

Washington Commanders veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne let his frustrations boil over in Sunday's 44-22 loss to the Detroit Lions, and now he's facing the consequences.

The NFL announced on Monday that Payne has been suspended one game without pay for punching Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the second quarter of Sunday's game. He will miss Washington's Week 11 matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Spain.

Although Payne appealed the suspension, it was upheld on Monday by hearing officer Ramon Foster.

Payne was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and an automatic ejection for slugging St. Brown in the helmet following a verbal exchange after Detroit scored its third touchdown of the first half. According to ESPN's John Keim, it was the first time he had been ejected from a game in his eight seasons in the NFL.

Commanders defensive tackle Ja'Von Kinlaw came to the defense of his teammate, saying after the game that St. Brown had punched Payne first.

"Yeah for sure, and they (saw it), too," Kinlaw said of the officials. "It's some bulls--t. 100 percent. Daron retaliated. The refs literally saw the first punch. I don't blame him for the way he reacted. Tempers got to flaring."

St. Brown admitted that he antagonized Payne, telling reporters that "two plays before that we got into a little scuffle, back and forth. Then we end up scoring and I go up to him. I say a little something, nothing crazy, and then he decides to swing on me."

Payne has been one of the lone bright spots for a Washington defense that ranks 30th in the NFL with 394.6 yards allowed per game. He's produced 30 total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a blocked field goal and five passes defended.

The Commanders will be trying to end a five-game losing streak when they face the Dolphins next Sunday, but they will have to do so without one of their best defensive players.