The NFL lifted Payne's one-game suspension Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Payne was unsuccessful in his appeal of a one-game suspension stemming from his actions during the Commanders' Week 10 loss against the Lions, when he punched Amon-Ra St. Brown. Payne sat out of Sunday's overtime loss to the Dolphins, and with the Commanders on a bye Week 12, his next opportunity to play is Week 13 against the Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 30.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Suspension upheld on appeal
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Payne's one-game suspension was upheld on appeal Monday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Payne was suspended one game for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown during the Commanders' loss to the Lions on Sunday. With Payne out for Week 11 against the Dolphins in Madrid, look for Eddie Goldman, Jer'Zhan Newton and Sheldon Day to see increased playing time up front on the defensive line.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Appealing one-game ban
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Payne will appeal his one-game suspension, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Payne was hit with a one-game suspension after he threw a punch at Amon-Ra St. Brown during Washington's blowout loss to the Lions on Sunday. Payne was ejected from the contest and will not be permitted to travel with the team to Madrid, Spain for Sunday's game against the Dolphins unless he wins his appeal.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Suspended one game
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Payne has been suspended one game for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown during Sunday's loss against Detroit, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
After being disqualified from Sunday's game for unsportsmanlike conduct, Payne will serve a one-game suspension. The one-time Pro Bowler will not be able to suit up in next week's game in Madrid against the Dolphins. It is still unclear if he will appeal the suspension.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Uncertain to suit up Monday
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Payne (toe) is questionable to play against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
Payne didn't practice at all this week due to a toe injury. He's been deemed questionable to face Kansas City, and head coach Dan Quinn said Saturday, "He is dealing with a toe that's bothered him. So just kind of working through that to get him into that spot but I'll know more over the next day and a half," per JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington. If Payne isn't able to give it a go Monday, Eddie Goldman could be in line for more snaps at defensive tackle.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Assuming leadership role at OTAs
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Payne (knee/finger) has been participating in OTAs, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Payne was unable to participate in Washington's NFC Championship Game loss to the Eagles, but he has recovered from his injuries ahead of the 2025 campaign. The defensive tackle has drawn praise from Washington's coaching staff for his leadership in the offseason, and Payne projects to be an important piece of the defense after recording 4.0 sacks in the 2024 regular season.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Posts 4.0 sacks in 2024 season
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Payne (knee/finger) recorded 42 tackles (22 solo), including 4.0 sacks, along with two pass defenses over 17 regular-season games in 2024.
Though Payne continued to play a key role as a starter on Washington's defensive line, he was subbed out more often than in previous campaigns and logged a career-low 702 defensive snaps. Not surprisingly, his production consequently dropped, as his tackle total was also a career low. Nonetheless, Payne matched the 4.0 sacks he recorded last year. During the playoffs, the usually durable Payne was unable to stay healthy, as he suffered a finger injury in the wild-card round, then hurt his knee in the divisional round and didn't suit up for the NFC Championship Game versus Philadelphia. Payne will likely be recovered by the start of training camp, and unless Washington decides to part ways with him, he's expected to again be a key piece of the team's defense in 2025, when he'll be in the third year of the four-year extension he signed in March of 2023.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Not playing against Philadelphia
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Payne (knee/finger) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Payne was unable to practice all week due to knee and finger injuries, and both are serious enough for him to be sidelined for Sunday's NFC Championship Game. Rookie second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton will likely fill in as the Commanders' second starter at defensive tackle alongside Jonathan Allen while Sheldon Day and Carl Davis serve in rotational roles due to Payne's injury.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Questionable to face Eagles
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Payne (knee/finger) did not practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against Philadelphia.
Payne couldn't practice in any capacity this week, so his status for Sunday's road matchup against the Eagles appears legitimately up in the air. The veteran defensive end's status will be made official no later than 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Rookie second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton will figure to inherit a more significant role on defense in the event that Payne can't go.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Will play against Detroit
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Payne (finger) does not have an injury designation heading into Saturday's NFC divisional-round clash against the Lions.
Payne injured his finger in the first half of Sunday's NFC wild-card game against the Buccaneers, and he finished the contest with one solo tackle while playing in just 18 defensive snaps. Payne managed to log a full practice Thursday, and he has progressed enough to be able to play Saturday.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Gets another sack Sunday
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Payne recorded two tackles (one solo) including 1.0 sacks and a pass defensed during Sunday's 20-19 win at New Orleans.
Payne made a mark in the sack column for his third straight appearance in Week 15, and he batted down a pass for the first time this season. He projects to see a healthy dose of the run in Week 16 when Washington hosts the Eagles.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Questionable for Sunday
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Payne (back) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints.
The 27-year-old popped up on the Commanders' injury report Friday as a non-participant due to a back issue, putting his status for Sunday's game up in the air. Payne has yet to miss a game this season, recording 33 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, over 13 appearances. If he's unable to suit up in Week 15, Carl Davis and Sheldon Day will likely see increased work with Washington's first-team defense.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Upgraded to full participant
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Payne (back) was a full participant in Thursday's practice session.
Payne opened with a limited tag Wednesday due to a back issue, but he was able to practice without restrictions Thursday. Payne and Jonathan Allen will anchor the middle of the Commanders' defensive front this season, with Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell lining up on the ends.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Dealing with injury
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Payne (back) was a limited participant during practice Wednesday.
Payne will start Week 1 prep as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. The Alabama product has only missed one regular-season game in his six-year career, so the chance of him sitting out Sunday is likely small. However, it'll still be worth monitoring his status for practice Thursday and Friday.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Drops off to 4.0 sacks
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Payne recorded 53 tackles (32 solo), 4.0 sacks, four pass defenses, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries across 17 games in 2023.
The 320-pound DT has missed just one game through six pro seasons, but his pass-rushing stats took a big step backward in 2023 following career highs of 11.5 sacks and 20 QB hits the year prior. He's otherwise recorded between 2.0 and 5.0 sacks each year, and while he remains one of the better players on Washington's beleaguered defense, the four-year, $90 million contract he signed last spring could look like an overpay to a new coaching staff. Cutting him would incur a massive dead cap hit of $46.4 million though, so Payne figures to be back in 2024 and should be one of the few returning starters locked into a key role.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Absent Wednesday
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Payne (lower leg) is not practicing Wednesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Payne briefly left Sunday's win over the Broncos due to an apparent lower leg injury, but he was able to retake the field in that contest. That could bode well for Payne's chances of suiting up Week 3 versus the Bills, but his participation in practice Thursday and Friday will need to be monitored.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Continues dominance up the middle
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Payne recorded five tackles (three solo), including two sacks, during Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Browns.
Payne accounted for two of the Commanders' five sacks on quarterback Deshaun Watson in Week 17. The fifth-year defensive tackle leads the team in sacks this season with a career-high 11.5 and has now logged a new career high in tackles with 62 over 16 games this season. Payne could see added attention from the Cowboys' offensive line if fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (knee) sits out next week's regular-season finale.
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Commanders' Daron Payne: Another sack Sunday
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Payne logged one sack and six tackles (four solo), including four tackles for loss, in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Vikings.
Payne brought down Kirk Cousins for a nine-yard loss to end Minnesota's second series Sunday, increasing his sack total to a career-high 5.5 this season. The fifth-year defensive tackle has also collected 35 tackles (16 solo) and three passes defended through nine games in 2022, and he seems set to amass the best overall production of his career so long as he remains healthy moving forward.
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Football Team's Daron Payne: Active for Week 5
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Payne (toe) is active for Sunday's contest against the Saints.
As expected, Payne will be active for Week 5 after being added to the injury report Friday. The 24-year-old has played the most snaps (219) of any Washington defensive lineman this season, so his availability will be key in slowing down Alvin Kamara and the Saints on Sunday.
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Football Team's Daron Payne: Expected to play Sunday
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Payne (toe) is expected to play Sunday against the Saints, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Payne was added to the injury report Friday, but he is on track to suit up in Week 5. The 24-year-old has played the most snaps (219) of any Washington defensive linemen this season, so his availability will be key in slowing down Alvin Kamara and New Orleans' run game.
