Tuesday brought another round of roster shuffling for Washington, and the biggest news was the one the Commanders can’t spin away: both starting defensive tackles are now on injured reserve. Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw joined Jeremy McNichols on IR, leaving Washington to sort through a thinner depth chart on both sides of the ball as it moves toward Sunday’s matchup with the Rams.
Payne is done for the season. Kinlaw and McNichols each have to sit at least four games.
The Payne injury had already been described as a season-ending Jones fracture suffered during Friday’s practice, while McNichols is expected to miss significant time with a midfoot injury. That leaves Tim Settle Jr. and Shy Tuttle as the available defensive tackles for now, though Washington could still chase more help.
Byron Cowart was elevated from the practice squad before the Philly game, but that does not automatically carry over to the Rams game. Jer’Zhan Newton is still working through his 21-day practice window and has to be activated before he can suit up.
Washington did get one running back back in the building. The team claimed Robert Henry Jr. off waivers from Seattle after the Seahawks waived him Monday to activate Jadarian Price.
Seattle had signed Henry from Washington’s practice squad on October 6, and he has not appeared in a regular-season NFL game yet. His return gives the Commanders another body in the backfield while they wait to sort out McNichols’ snaps.
Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler are the other backs on the active roster, with Devin Neal and Craig Reynolds still on the practice squad.
The Commanders also spent Sunday night making sure Terry McLaurin felt included even though he was watching the win from home. Jayden Daniels and Mike Sainristil wore shirts with McLaurin’s picture before the game, and after Stefon Diggs scored, he joined Daniels, Antonio Williams and Josh Conerly Jr. at a camera for McLaurin’s “Scary Terry” celebration. Williams said the receivers wanted McLaurin to see it.
On the field, Washington finally found a big-play spark against Philadelphia. With 2:51 left in the third quarter, Daniels hit Treylon Burks for 53 yards, flipping the field from Washington’s 40 to the Eagles’ 7.
It came one play after Dorance Armstrong forced Tanner McKee’s fumble and Charles Omenihu recovered it, and it stood as the longest reception by a Commanders player this season. From there, Washington scored 27 unanswered points and rolled to a 27-10 win over the Eagles.
That performance came with plenty of mess attached. Washington opened the game with four penalties, one dropped pass, one fumble and one missed field goal across its first three drives.
Even after the coaching staff spent the bye week trying to clean up the pre-snap issues, the Commanders still finished the first half with seven penalties for 50 yards. The NFL average for an entire game this season is right around eight per team.
Daniels’ night also carried a leadership note that didn’t need a microphone. No one said it publicly after the game, but his address to the offense was viewed inside the locker room as an unofficial turning point. Players saw it as another step in his growth.
There was also a roster note on the offensive line front: Washington worked out Zack Johnson, Doug Kramer, Michael Niese and Brandon Walton.
The Commanders, now 2-4-1, have plenty to evaluate before the November 10 trade deadline at 4 p.m. Eastern.
The interior offensive line, defensive tackle and possibly running back all sit on the list of possible needs. The injuries to Payne and Kinlaw, plus the uncertainty around Newton, leave the defensive front short.
McNichols’ injury could create another opening depending on what further scans show. The three pairings below are my proposals for how Peters could improve the roster this season.
Across the league, Washington’s win over Philadelphia produced a strange split in the rankings. NFL.com dropped the Commanders two spots.
Pro Football Talk moved them up six. Sports Illustrated bumped them five.
Same game, wildly different reactions.
The Rams had their own injury and roster movement to manage Tuesday. Dean Connors was placed on injured reserve after breaking his hand against the Chargers, and Alex Bachman was waived after handling nine punt returns and 13 kickoff returns this season. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum remain in the backfield, but Bachman’s exit leaves Los Angeles needing a new punt returner before Sunday.
Los Angeles also signed Cam Lampkin from its practice squad to the active roster, brought Nyzier Fourqurean back to the practice squad and released linebacker Garrett Nelson from that unit. The cornerback move comes as Jaylen Watson’s shoulder and Trent McDuffie’s back are being monitored. Watson aggravated his injury against the Chargers, and McVay said Monday that McDuffie felt better than expected, though neither has an official Week 9 practice designation yet.
Then there’s Matthew Stafford. He left Sunday’s game with ice on his right elbow, and McVay acknowledged soreness in his throwing arm.
Ian Rapoport said Tuesday he expects Stafford to be ready for Washington. The Rams’ first injury report comes Wednesday, when Stafford is also scheduled to speak with reporters.
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