The Commanders’ defensive line is headed into Saturday’s game in Detroit looking more like a shuffle than a set rotation.
Washington is expected to keep its starters on the field only briefly against the Lions, and Jared Goff is not expected to play for Detroit. Even so, the bigger story is the condition of the Commanders’ front, which has been hit hard over the last two weeks.
Johnny Newton is the latest major loss. The No. 36 overall pick in 2024 tore a pectoral muscle last week against the Dolphins, had surgery this week and, for now, the team is only saying he will miss significant time. Newton, the former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has dealt with injuries in each of his previous two NFL seasons, and this third season could end up being wiped out entirely.
The injury list keeps growing around him. Defensive ends Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson were out of practice by the end of the week, which makes them likely absences for Saturday. On Thursday, Daron Payne left practice after getting hurt, and because head coach Dan Quinn had already spoken to reporters before practice, the team hasn’t said what happened or how serious it might be.
That leaves Washington piecing together the rest of the line with a mix of returning players, recent signings and young prospects trying to grab hold of jobs.
Tim Settle has been sidelined for about a week with a calf strain, though the team has said the issue is not serious and that they are simply hitting the proper markers before he returns. Dorance Armstrong was activated off the PUP list on August 7, and this could be his first game action of the 2026 preseason.
Ricky Barber has turned heads in camp, even if his 6-foot-3, 295-pound frame makes him an unlikely fit at nose tackle in the NFL. Washington will still look at him as a player who can work over the offensive tackle when the team lines up in a 3-4.
Byron Cowart, listed at 6-3 and 300 pounds, arrived after the surprise retirement of D.J. Davidson and flashed a few strong plays in last week’s game against the Dolphins. Maurice Hurst, a 6-1, 291-pound defensive tackle, was added this week after Newton’s pectoral injury, and the former Michigan Wolverine should get his first game reps for Washington against the Lions.
There are also a few names worth watching as roster battles play out. Drake Jackson, who is coming back from a bad knee injury that ended his time with the 49ers, is competing for a spot.
At 6-4 and 273 pounds, he looks built more for a defensive end role in a four-man front. D.J.
Johnson, who measures 6-4 and 260 pounds, fits a similar profile and would also seem better suited to work slightly outside the offensive tackle.
At defensive tackle, Javon Kinlaw is likely to see his first preseason action, while rookie Jeffrey M’ba out of SMU is trying to earn a roster spot. Shy Tuttle has also drawn good reports this camp. The 30-year-old, 300-pound tackle entered the league in 2019 and has played regular-season games for the Saints from 2019 to 2022, the Panthers from 2023 to 2024, the Titans in 2025 and the Commanders in 2025.
Deatrich Wise remains on the PUP list as he works back from a torn quadriceps and surgery. That injury came in a Week 2 game against the Packers and ended his 2025 season.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Brings Back A Fear Commanders Fans Know Too Well
Jayden Daniels second NFL season has already put Washington in familiar territory, and not in a good way. After a sprained knee, a hamstring injury and a dislocated elbow limited him to seven games, the concern around the Commanders is less about one rough stretch than the larger question of how they handle a young quarterback with real franchise upside. For a fan base that has seen this movie before, every hit and every hurried return carries extra weight.
Robert Griffin IIIs career is the warning sign hovering over all of it, a reminder of how quickly things can go sideways when a quarterbacks body and the teams protection plan are not aligned. That is why Dan Quinn and David Blough face more than a tactical challenge in Washington. They have to be willing to adjust the offense around Daniels, and if necessary, take the ball out of his hands for the sake of preserving the long view of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found An Undrafted RB Worth Watching
Robert Henry made a strong first impression in his preseason debut for Washington, giving the Commanders a little something extra to think about in a crowded backfield. The undrafted rookie piled up 75 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, then backed up the performance with a confidence that suggested he believes he belongs at this level. Fellow rookie Kaytron Allen also flashed with 85 yards and a touchdown, and even credited Henry for helping settle him into the game.
Dan Quinn had reason to notice Henry, too, especially on the protection side where the coach singled out his pass blocking. For an undrafted back, that kind of detail can matter just as much as the runs that show up in the box score, because it speaks to whether a player can stay on the field when the competition gets real. Washington will keep sorting through its options, but Henry at least made sure his name entered the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Roster Cut Battle Fans Need To Watch
The preseason scoreboard did not break Washingtons way in Detroit, but the Commanders did get one of those useful August reminders that the back end of the roster is still very much up for grabs. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, a recent addition, made the strongest case on the night with five tackles and two sacks, while cornerback Amik Robertson helped create Washingtons only touchdown by forcing a strip-sack that flipped momentum the other direction.
For a team still sorting out depth and roles, those are the kinds of performances that can linger well beyond one exhibition game. Hursts showing is the sort that puts a player squarely into the roster conversation, especially when the defense is looking for reliable pieces who can translate preseason flashes into something more lasting once cut-down decisions arrive. [Read more 🡒]