As the Washington Commanders wrapped up their final practice ahead of Saturday’s matchup with the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, the team’s injury report painted a familiar picture for this point in the season: banged up, short-handed, and leaning on depth. With four players officially ruled out and two more listed as questionable, Washington will be heading into Week 16 with a reshuffled lineup - again.
Let’s start with the big-picture news. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels won’t be suiting up for the remainder of the season.
He’s been practicing in a limited capacity, but after aggravating that elbow injury - the same one he initially dislocated a month ago - the team is shutting him down. It’s a tough break for the rookie, who flashed plenty of promise early on.
For now, he’ll stay involved in meetings and practices in a limited role, but he won’t be hitting the field until 2026.
Injuries continue to pile up from last week’s loss to the Giants. Wide receiver Noah Brown (rib) and cornerback Darius Rush (groin) have both been placed on injured reserve and are done for the year. Neither was a headliner on the depth chart, but both had carved out solid roles - especially Brown, who had started to find some rhythm in the passing game.
Up front, the offensive line takes another hit with left tackle Laremy Tunsil ruled out due to an oblique injury. He gave it a go in practice earlier this week but wasn’t able to push through.
That means Brandon Coleman will step into the starting role for the first time since his rookie season. Coleman’s no stranger to the job - he’s filled in for Tunsil multiple times this year - but protecting the blind side against Philly’s pass rush is a tall order.
On the defensive side, the Commanders will be without veteran defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, who remains in the concussion protocol following the Giants game. Tight end Colson Yankoff also won’t be available after suffering an ankle injury last week.
As for the questionable tags, there are a couple names to monitor. Cornerback Jonathan Jones, who missed the Giants game with a rib injury, was a full participant earlier in the week but didn’t practice on Thursday.
That could be a veteran rest day, or it could signal a setback - we’ll know more closer to kickoff. Defensive tackle Johnny Newton popped up on the report with an illness, which is always tricky this time of year.
He’s officially questionable.
There is some good news, though. Defensive end Drake Jackson, who’s been working his way back from a patellar tendon injury dating back to 2023, has been cleared for contact and has practiced fully all week.
He’s also been dealing with a groin issue, but according to head coach Dan Quinn, Jackson is set to make his Commanders debut on Saturday. That’s a significant addition to a pass rush that’s been searching for answers.
On the offensive line, George Fant is off the injury report after missing the Vikings game with a knee issue. He’s good to go. And running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. - who sat out last week with a groin injury - has practiced in full all week and is expected to be active.
Here’s a quick rundown of the Commanders’ injury report heading into Saturday:
OUT
- DT Eddie Goldman - Still in concussion protocol after last week’s game
- QB Jayden Daniels - Shut down for the season after re-aggravating elbow injury
- LT Laremy Tunsil - Oblique injury, ruled out after attempting to practice
- TE Colson Yankoff - Ankle injury suffered vs. Giants
QUESTIONABLE
- CB Jonathan Jones - Rib injury; missed practice Thursday after two full sessions
- DT Johnny Newton - Illness; added to the report late in the week
CLEARED / FULL PARTICIPANTS
- DE Drake Jackson - Activated from IR, full participant all week, set to debut
- OT George Fant - Knee injury behind him, ready to return
- **RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
** - Full practice all week after groin injury
With a short week and a tough divisional opponent on deck, Washington will need some of its younger players and backups to step up in a big way. Saturday’s game won’t just be about pride - it’s a chance for the Commanders to evaluate key pieces heading into a pivotal offseason.