The Washington Commanders trimmed and shuffled the roster ahead of their home matchup with the New York Giants, and the injury picture still looms over just about every move.
Deatrich Wise Jr. is the one notable activation. The defensive end, who had been on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of a quad injury from last season, has been added to the Commanders’ 53-man roster after his 21-day practice window was opened this week. He can play this week, and Washington may need him with other defenders banged up.
Austin Keys also had his practice window opened and was signed off the practice squad, giving the Commanders another option who is likely to help on special teams. But Trey Amos, dealing with an ankle injury, and Jeremy McNichols, who is working back from a quad issue, were not activated and will stay on injured reserve for at least one more game.
Washington is also elevating two players for Sunday: wide receiver Van Jefferson and safety Darren Hall.
That comes with the injury report already stripped down by Friday. The Commanders ruled out six players: QB Marcus Mariota (knee), WR Stefon Diggs, S Percy Butler (hamstring), S Nick Cross (illness), DE Charles Omenihu (groin/ankle), and S Tyler Owens (hamstring).
The receiving group remains a major question. Diggs is out, while Terry McLaurin is questionable after dealing with a hamstring injury last week.
Head coach Dan Quinn said McLaurin “looked good” at practice, and he could be available Sunday, though the team may choose to manage his workload because of the injury. Jefferson gives Jayden Daniels another veteran target as he returns to the field.
The broader injury situation has forced Washington into some tough roster calls. The team had 23 players on Wednesday’s injury report, a staggering number for a 53-man roster. That kind of attrition has already pushed the Commanders into moves like trying to sneak rookie running back Kaytron Allen onto the practice squad, only to see him claimed by the Dolphins.
In Other News...
Commanders Season Turning Point Puts Brandon Coleman In A Brutal Spotlight
The Commanders head into a pivotal Week 5 matchup with the Giants trying to steady themselves in a turbulent NFC East, and the timing could not be more important. Washington is still dealing with injuries, but the expectation is that Jayden Daniels will be back without limitations, giving the offense a chance to look more like itself in a game that already feels like an early divider in the standings.
That also puts Brandon Coleman in a harsher spotlight than usual, because the left side of the line is going to be tested in a matchup that will tell a lot about how well Washington can hold up under pressure. For a team trying to keep pace in a division where every week seems to matter, how Coleman handles this assignment could shape more than just one afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Are Counting On A Familiar Name In A Game That Matters
Lucas Patricks arrival in Washington on Sept. 16 looked like a depth move at the time, the kind of signing teams make when they need reinforcement inside. It has turned into a much bigger part of the Commanders offensive picture, with Patrick stepping in for the injured Nick Allegretti and settling in at center, where he has logged 129 snaps and drawn strong marks from Pro Football Focus.
Now the schedule has given him a familiar backdrop for an important assignment. Patrick is set to snap to Jayden Daniels against the Giants, the same team that let him go during roster cuts earlier this offseason. For Washington, it is another test of how well the middle of the line can hold up, and for Patrick it is a chance to show the decision-makers in New York what they moved on from. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face New Pressure To Protect Jayden Daniels Up Front
Jayden Daniels is still working through the realities of playing with a brace on his injured elbow, and the Commanders are learning how much that changes the feel of the offense up front. The quarterback said he will need reps to get comfortable with the brace, which puts added importance on the stability around him as Washington tries to keep its protection from becoming another weekly storyline.
Dan Quinn added another layer to that picture by settling on Lucas Patrick as the starting center going forward, a move that gives the Commanders a clearer answer in the middle of the line. For a team trying to settle in around a young quarterback already adjusting to discomfort, the middle of the protection is no place for uncertainty, and Washington will be watching closely to see whether this change brings the kind of steadiness Daniels needs. [Read more 🡒]