The Detroit Lions are facing the Washington Commanders in a game that hit headlines as Donald Trump was set to attend, but the NFC East franchise lost a key player due to a punch
18:32 ET, 09 Nov 2025Updated 22:58 ET, 09 Nov 2025
Daron Payne lost his temper and punched Amon-Ra St. Brown in the helmet(Image: X @NFL_DovKleiman)
Washington Commanders tackle Daron Payne was ejected for punching Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during their Week 10 showdown.
On Sunday, the Jayden Daniels-less Commanders hosted the Lions in an NFL clash that hit headlines as U.S. President Donald Trump was announced as an attendee. In the first quarter, the Lions dominated and stormed to a 14-3 lead thanks to touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and St. Brown.
After Jared Goff hit St. Brown for a 9-yard touchdown, the receiver celebrated by pointing at the suites inside Northwest Stadium where the President was believed to be sitting. He hadn’t actually arrived yet, but St. Brown was none the wiser.
READ MORE: Giants forced to turn to Russell Wilson after Jaxson Dart made NFL historyREAD MORE: Tom Brady absence at Patriots vs. Buccaneers explained after his ex-teams faced off
Upon scoring, St. Brown did his own version of Trump’s infamous dance. The 79-year-old started a trend by doing a dance where he alternates arm extensions to the LGBTQ anthem YMCA.
Fans were frustrated online after the dance, and Payne may have taken issue with it as well. The incident came following a 13-yard touchdown run from Gibbs. As St. Brown was leaving the field, he seemed to exchange words with Payne, who responded by punching the receiver in the helmet.
He was swiftly ejected, which was a foolish move from a veteran player. Back in 2023, Payne signed a four-year extension worth $90 million with the Commanders, becoming the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL at the time.
But he wuld watch the rest of the clash with the Lions from the locker room. Payne was named the defensive captain for the team going into the game, so losing his services was a huge blow.
Sign up to our NFL newsletter here
St. Brown celebrated by doing Donald Trump’s signature dance following his touchdown(Image: X @Lions)
“Daron Payne at his games going to be one of will, line of scrimmage game for sure. He’ll be right in the middle of it,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn had said earlier in the week.
Much like Payne, fans were also not pleased with St. Brown. One referenced the Detroit Tigers’ season collapse after doing the Trump dance, writing: “This literally what ruined the tigers season yall don’t learn.”
“Bruhh…,” posted another. But others suggested that the dance celebration may have been a shot at Trump.
“He’s mocking trump lol trump is rooting for Washington the lions are beating Washington,” one user posted. “Y’all can not be this slow.”
The Lions ended up beating the Commanders 44-22.