Washington’s week of receiver and defensive line decisions kept getting more complicated Thursday, and the Rams have their own injury pileup to sort through before Sunday.
Treylon Burks, who delivered Washington’s longest catch of the season against Philadelphia, missed practice again with a foot injury. Dyami Brown was added to the report as limited because of a calf issue, while Stefon Diggs returned after sitting out Wednesday for rest. With Terry McLaurin on injured reserve, the Commanders have one more practice before they have to settle on their receiver group for the Rams game.
The same uncertainty hangs over the defensive tackle spot. Jer’Zhan Newton was a full participant for a second straight day, but Washington still has to activate him from injured reserve before he can suit up.
Shy Tuttle remained limited with a shoulder injury. The Commanders also shuffled the depth chart Wednesday, moving Ricky Barber from the practice squad to the active roster and signing Daniel Ekuale to the practice squad.
Daronte Jones said replacing Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw is not just about plugging in one player.
“It will take the entire front seven,” Jones said, not just whoever lines up in those spots.
Robert Henry Jr. is also back on Washington’s active roster and could make his first regular-season NFL appearance. He said he is getting ready for that chance, though he still does not know what his role will be against Los Angeles. Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler remain the top backs, and David Blough described the third running back job as supplemental, which leaves Henry’s workload undecided.
The Rams are dealing with issues of their own in the secondary. Jaylen Watson needs shoulder surgery and is done for the season.
Trent McDuffie, who is dealing with a back injury, and Kam Curl, who has a foot issue, missed practice again Thursday. Los Angeles signed former Ram David Long Jr. to its practice squad, and Sean McVay said Josh Wallace and former Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes will be asked to do more without Watson.
How much Washington can attack that group may hinge on Burks and Brown being available Friday.
Matthew Stafford was a full participant for the second straight day despite the right elbow issue that showed up after the Chargers game. Myles Garrett and tight end Terrance Ferguson were limited again as they work their way back from injured reserve, and both would need to be activated to play Sunday.
Guard Steve Avila moved up to full participation, while linebacker Grant Stuard did not practice. Tight end Colby Parkinson and long snapper Joe Cardona also stayed out.
Blough said Washington’s offense is still trying to clean up the mistakes that wrecked the first 15 minutes against Philadelphia, especially the pre-snap penalties that have been “killing us.” He also said the Rams’ front forces the Commanders to account for more than one threat before the snap.
Blough said Washington cannot just double Aaron Donald every time with Byron Young coming off the edge and Garrett potentially joining him.
Jones said the pass rush looked connected against the Eagles, whether Washington rushed four or five. He also pointed to Stafford’s ability to diagnose pressure quickly and get the ball out.
Jones added that having Steve Wilks on the sideline against Philadelphia helped him stay locked in on the next call. Sunday will show whether that setup, and the improved rush coordination, carries over against the Rams.
Los Angeles also made a special teams move Thursday, promoting kicker Joshua Karty from the practice squad. Brandon McManus is still on the active roster, and Karty handled kickoffs last week while McManus kicked field goals and extra points.
Washington long snapper Tyler Ott was named the team’s 2026 Salute to Service Award nominee. Ott has supported the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which helps families who have lost a service member. Fan voting runs through November 30 and will help determine the award’s three finalists.
Quinn said he liked what he saw from Cross against Philadelphia, especially the way he handled communication.
“But most importantly, I really felt his communication in this game, the urgency of what we're looking for from that," Quinn said. "So I thought that was a good step forward as well.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame also announced its five remaining Contributor nominees for the Class of 2027 on Wednesday. Former Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, now a senior advisor to Commanders GM Adam Peters, is among the finalists.
The group was trimmed from 42 nominees and also includes Robert Kraft, Ralph Hay, Virginia McCaskey, and John Wooten. The Contributor Subcommittee still has to select one candidate to move on to the full committee.
And in a reminder that ugly football still draws a crowd, Nielsen said 19.015 million viewers watched Sunday night’s Eagles-Commanders game on the network once run by Russell Dalrymple. The matchup drew that audience despite featuring the 2-5 Eagles and the 1-4-1 Commanders, and despite coming after an afternoon slate capped by the Chiefs-Broncos game.
In Other News...
Commanders May Be Getting The Rams Defense They Didnt Want
The pass rush the Commanders were hoping to avoid appears to be back on the menu in Week 9. Myles Garrett has been working his way back from knee surgery, and after practicing all week, the star edge rusher is expected to be activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Los Angeles game against Washington.
The Rams are still evaluating his readiness before making it official, but the signs point toward him being available Sunday. For a Commanders offense already staring at a tough matchup, the timing could hardly be worse if Garrett is cleared to suit up. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face A Brutal Test With Their Offense Under Pressure
The Rams arrive in Week 9 with some momentum, having bounced back from an earlier loss with two straight wins as they try to push their record above .500. For Washington, the timing is tricky. The Commanders are coming off a win, but the bigger picture still shows a team with a losing record and a roster dealing with injury issues, which makes this matchup feel like a real measuring stick for where the offense stands right now.
Los Angeles brings a balanced challenge, and the matchup leans into the areas where the Rams have looked most capable lately. They have shown advantages both on the ground and through the air against a Washington defense that will have to hold up under pressure for four quarters. With the betting market backing the Rams, the Commanders are left needing a cleaner, more efficient offensive outing than the one they can afford to waste. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Cannot Afford To Reopen The Brandon Aiyuk Drama
Brandon Aiyuks situation is back in the spotlight as he applies for reinstatement with the NFL after the dispute that landed him on San Franciscos reserve/left squad list. He is expected to report to the 49ers facility, but there is still no clear answer on whether he actually wants to play for them again or whether the team wants him back, which keeps the whole matter hanging over the league a little longer.
For Washington, the important part is simpler: the Commanders already moved on during the offseason and should resist any temptation to reopen that door now. The receiver room has been filled out since then, and with Antonio Williams, Stefon Diggs and Treylon Burks in place, the club has little reason to revisit a drama it already chose to leave behind. [Read more 🡒]