The Washington Commanders got a mixed bag of injury updates this week-some tough blows, but also a few encouraging signs as the regular season winds down.
Let’s start with the setbacks. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Tuesday that defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste and wide receiver/kick returner Luke McCaffrey won’t be returning this season.
Both second-year players had been holding out hope for a late-season comeback, but that door is now officially closed. It’s a tough break for a pair of young talents who were still carving out their roles in Washington’s rotation.
Adding to the injury woes, wide receiver Noah Brown is headed back to injured reserve. Brown had just returned to action and made an early impact against the Giants, hauling in a 28-yard pass from Marcus Mariota.
But his comeback was short-lived-he suffered a rib injury in the first half and didn’t return. It’s a frustrating turn for a player who looked poised to contribute down the stretch.
Then there’s cornerback Darius Rush, who made his Commanders debut on Sunday-his sixth stop in the NFL at just 25 years old. Unfortunately, his time on the field was brief.
Rush exited with a groin injury and has now been designated as injured on the practice squad. It’s another setback for a player with elite speed-he clocked a 4.36 at the NFL Combine-but who hasn’t yet found a stable home in the league.
Now for the good news.
Running back Chris Rodriguez was back on the practice field Tuesday and, more importantly, was a full participant. Rodriguez had been sidelined with a groin injury suffered in the loss to Minnesota, where he was one of the few bright spots-rushing for 52 yards on just 10 carries before going down.
He warmed up before the Giants game but held off on returning, needing a few more days to heal. Tuesday’s full practice is a strong sign that he’s trending toward being available again soon.
Another positive development: defensive end Drake Jackson was also a full participant in practice. Jackson’s been dealing with a groin injury of his own and hasn’t played in recent weeks, even after being activated. The coaching staff is eager to get a look at him in game action before the season ends, both to evaluate his recovery and to assess his future with the team.
“Yeah, Drake has been cleared and he’ll be full at practice today,” Quinn said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how his week goes, and he would give himself a real shot to play as long as the week goes like we think.”
Cornerback Jonathan Jones, who missed Sunday’s win over the Giants, was also back as a full participant. Jones has been banged up this season-he previously missed time with a hamstring injury and most recently suffered a rib injury while making a tackle against the Vikings. His return to practice is another encouraging sign for a secondary that’s been tested by injuries all year.
All told, it’s a week of mixed signals for Washington. The loss of Jean-Baptiste, McCaffrey, and Brown hurts, especially for a team still trying to evaluate young talent. But the returns of Rodriguez, Jackson, and Jones offer some hope that the Commanders can finish the season with a more complete roster-and maybe get a better look at who fits into their plans for 2026.