The Commanders are heading into Sunday night’s matchup with the Eagles carrying a thinner defensive front, but they did get a bit of relief on the injury front.
Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton was downgraded Saturday from questionable to OUT after returning to practice Wednesday. Newton will stay in his 21-day activation window as he works his way back from a torn pectoral muscle, but he won’t be available against Philadelphia.
Washington also made a roster move to help patch things up inside, elevating defensive tackle Byron Cowart from the practice squad.
That move matters because the Commanders are already stretched at defensive tackle. Starters Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw are both out with injuries, leaving Washington especially vulnerable in the middle. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Payne suffered a season-ending Jones fracture during Friday’s practice.
With Payne and Kinlaw sidelined, Tim Settle Jr. and Shy Tuttle are the main established options left on the interior, and Cowart gives the team some added depth. Cowart’s last regular-season appearance came in 2024.
The timing is less than ideal with the Eagles expected to have Saquon Barkley available despite his hamstring and back injuries.
Washington did, however, get a more encouraging update elsewhere on Sunday morning. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Treylon Burks is expected to play against Philadelphia after being listed as questionable with a foot injury. Burks was limited in practice Wednesday and Friday and did not practice Thursday.
He has nine catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns in five games this season, including four receptions for 66 yards against San Francisco before the bye.
Still, expected to play is not the same as guaranteed. Washington’s inactive list will have the final word.
In Other News...
Dan Quinn Suddenly Has A Commanders Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Commanders defensive struggles have become one of the louder issues around Dan Quinns first season in charge, and the problems have not looked like a simple matter of missed tackles or busted coverages. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones installed a new scheme, but the transition has been bumpy, with communication issues and a coaching staff still working through the realities of continuity after the offseason changes.
Odafe Oweh has already pointed to miscommunications inside the defensive operation, which only adds to the sense that the unit is still trying to get on the same page. Washington also brought in former head coach Steve Wilks as a consultant to help the secondary, a move that underscores how much the staff is still searching for answers as Quinn tries to steady a defense that has not yet found its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Mock Draft Hints At A Roster Reset Fans May Not Want
The Commanders are heading into a pivotal stretch with Sundays game against the Eagles carrying real weight for the rest of the season and, by extension, the future of Dan Quinns staff. At the same time, general manager Adam Peters appears reluctant to make a move before the trade deadline, a stance made even trickier by the injuries that have piled up across the roster and limited his options.
Against that backdrop, a recent mock draft paints a reset that would not exactly soothe anxious fans. The projection has Washington looking hard at the pass rush early, a reminder that the front office may soon have to balance immediate needs with a bigger roster overhaul, especially with several edge defenders potentially facing uncertain futures once the current season ends. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Injury Crisis Could Completely Change Their Sunday Night Attack
A Sunday night meeting that already carried plenty of weight now comes with a very different feel, as the Eagles and Commanders head into the matchup with several key names expected to be unavailable. Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith are among the notable absences on Philadelphias side, while Terry McLaurin and Dontayvion Wicks are also expected to miss, leaving both teams to adjust on the fly and forcing a closer look at who can absorb the lost production.
For Washington, the ripple effects go beyond the obvious game plan questions and into the kind of workload decisions that can shape how the offense functions in a short week. Dan Quinn has already addressed how the Commanders are handling player usage, while the fantasy angle has opened the door for deeper options such as Tanner McKee and Dallas Goedert to become more relevant than they would have been in a normal matchup. [Read more 🡒]