Daron Payne’s Suspension Upheld After Shocking Appeal Twist—What This Means for His Career

Alright, here’s the scoop you didn’t see coming: Daron Payne, the stalwart of the Commanders’ defensive line, is sidelined for their big Week 11 showdown against the Dolphins in Madrid. Yep, the very same Payne who brought the heat—and well, some controversy—during the recent clash with the Lions. He swung a punch at Amon-Ra St. Brown, got tossed, and now faces a one-game suspension that stuck despite his appeal. That loss? It’ll sting the Commanders on the field and dent Payne’s paycheck by over a million bucks, given his hefty $19.56 million salary. With Payne benched, Washington’s counting on Javon Kinlaw, Jer’Zhan Newton, Eddie Goldman, and Sheldon Day to step up and fill those defensive tackle shoes. This unexpected shakeup’s gonna ripple through their roster—and you can bet, the fallout will be talked about for weeks.LEARN MORE

Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne will miss the team’s Week 11 game against the Dolphins in Madrid.

Payne was suspended one game for punching Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during the Commanders’ 44-22 loss on Sunday. Payne, who was ejected from the game, appealed the suspension and the NFL announced that it was upheld by hearing officer Ramon Foster.

Payne will not travel with the team to Spain as a result of the ruling. He will lose a game check as a result of the suspension and that comes out to more than $1 million given Payne’s $19.56 million salary for the 2025 season.

Javon Kinlaw, Jer’Zhan Newton, Eddie Goldman, and Sheldon Day are the other defensive tackles on Washington’s 53-man roster.