The Washington Commanders may be forced to open the season without one of their most disruptive young defenders. Jer’zhan “Johnny” Newton, the former Illinois standout, underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to miss significant time in the 2026 NFL season.
Newton’s absence lands at a rough moment for Washington, with training camp closing in on roster cuts and injuries already reshaping the picture. For the Commanders, this one hits especially hard because Newton had become a real piece of the defensive front after being taken in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
In 33 career games, Newton has piled up 82 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He also logged 11.5 tackles for a loss, and his 2025 season was his best yet, when he posted five sacks and further established himself on the line. The source also notes 40 solo tackles among those 82 total stops.
His college résumé at Illinois was just as strong. Newton was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after the 2023 season and earned consensus All-American honors, then carried that production into the NFL without much of a hitch.
There is no timetable for his return right now, and the recovery path depends on how the surgery and rehab go. The source points out that torn pec injuries can vary widely, with some partial tears healing in four to six weeks, and T.J.
Watt returning in about six weeks in 2022 after choosing rehab instead of major surgery. Newton, though, went the surgical route, which usually means three to four months away and can stretch to as long as six months before a player is back to full strength.
That leaves Washington with a decision to make as the season unfolds. If the Commanders are out of the playoff race later on, the source suggests they could choose to shut Newton down rather than rush him back and risk another setback.
For now, the big question is simply how long the Commanders will have to wait for one of their former Illinois wrecking balls to get back on the field.
In Other News...
Illinois Camp Is Revealing A New Leadership Core And Key Starter
Illinois footballs training camp stayed behind closed doors for a second straight day, with a scrimmage set for Wednesday night and a media session coming Thursday featuring Bret Bielema and a few players. Even without the public view, the camp has already started to clarify where the program is heading, and the most immediate sign is a new leadership group built from six first-time captains: Aidan Laughery, Collin Dixon, Katin Houser, Jake Renfro, Matthew Bailey and Xavier Scott.
Another notable development is along the defensive front, where Darrell Prater has settled in quickly after transferring from Jacksonville State. Praters fit has been strong enough that he is now positioned to start at nose tackle in Illinois new defensive scheme, a meaningful early indicator for a unit still sorting out roles and responsibilities as camp pushes into its more revealing stages. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Addressed A Tight End Problem Fans Were Watching
Illinois got some needed help at tight end this week, with Bret Bielema announcing that fifth-year transfer Peyton Smith from the University of San Diego has joined the program and will wear No. 40. Smith arrives as a veteran option at a spot that had been thinned by offseason injuries, giving the Illini a little more experience and flexibility as they work through the early part of camp.
Bielema also left open the door for additional roster movement, noting the possibility of more additions depending on eligibility decisions tied to ongoing litigation. For Illinois, that means the tight end room may not be done changing yet, but Smiths arrival at least gives the staff another body and a proven college player while the bigger roster picture sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Entered The Race For Another Elite Five-Star Big
Brad Underwood and Illinois have jumped into the mix for another elite frontcourt prospect, extending a scholarship offer to Bentley Lusakueno, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Woodward Academy in Georgia. Ranked No. 6 in the class of 2028, Lusakueno already has a growing list of high-level suitors, with Tennessee, Oregon and Miami among the programs that have come in with offers as well.
For Illinois, the move fits a familiar recruiting pattern under Underwood, who has built around size and versatility in the paint. The Illini are also in pursuit of Dylan Betts, the 7-foot-3 big man in that same class, which underscores just how aggressively they are attacking the next wave of elite interior talent. [Read more 🡒]