Johnny Newton’s latest setback has only sharpened the scrutiny on the Washington Commanders’ 2024 draft class, and it comes at a time when the roster is already getting stretched thin in training camp.
The Commanders have been dealing with injuries across the board, with running back Rachaad White and starting center Nick Allegretti among the more notable names hit by ailments. That leaves Washington scrambling to patch holes on the fly, and it also makes it harder for a young defensive tackle like Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton to stay front and center. His absence, though, is one the team can’t shrug off.
Newton underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to miss significant time. The former Illinois standout has 82 tackles, 7 sacks (5 last year), 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 33 career games.
That’s a tough blow for a player the Commanders were counting on to keep trending upward. Entering year three, Newton had built some momentum as a rotational piece, finishing with five sacks and 27 pressures across 17 appearances and two starts. It was enough to leave the door open for a bigger role, especially with another offseason of work ahead.
Instead, his injury has wiped out that opportunity for now. Newton still hadn’t claimed a full-time starting job next to Tim Settle, and with Week 1 only weeks away, Washington is now looking at a situation where getting anything meaningful out of him in 2026 would count as a win.
The timing is especially frustrating because Newton was supposed to be one of the foundation pieces of this front office’s first draft. He was the second player ever selected by the current regime, going 36th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft behind quarterback Jayden Daniels.
On paper, that could have been a major hit for Washington: Daniels on one side, Newton on the other, a rare early one-two punch that might have helped shape the franchise’s direction. Daniels has already given the team star-level production, but Newton has not been able to match that kind of impact, and this latest injury only makes the gap feel wider.
And that’s where the larger concern comes in. Newton’s situation isn’t just about one player missing time. It’s another reminder of how uneven the rest of the Commanders’ 2024 class has looked outside of Daniels.
Mike Sainristil, Luke McCaffrey, and Brandon Coleman are still in the mix, but they’ve mostly been complementary pieces rather than steady difference-makers. They’ve shown flashes here and there, but not enough consistency to quiet the doubts around the class as a whole.
Newton will still have a chance to prove himself once he’s back, whenever that happens. But Washington’s need for him now goes beyond one injured defensive tackle.
The 12-5 2024 squad stayed on top by hitting on draft picks, and Daniels’ brilliance has done a lot to cover for the rest of the class. Newton’s injury brings that issue back into focus.
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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 🡒]