Dan Quinn’s announcement that Johnny Newton is dealing with a pectoral injury immediately raised questions about how much time the third-year defensive tackle could miss. But the bigger question for Newton now may be what happens when he returns. After two seasons that have fallen short of expectations, Newton was already entering a pivotal year in Washington. Now, with an injury potentially threatening his availability and his place in a crowded defensive line rotation, Newton’s window to change
the trajectory of his career is beginning to close. Adam Peters selected Newton because Washington believed he had the potential to become a disruptive interior presence alongside Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, not to simply become just a guy in a rotational role. has not been nearly as impactful as many expected after being drafted in the second round.
Newton lost a few matchups against the run game versus the Dolphins, and it wasn’t just losing reps; that happens. It was how Newton lost them. Newton struggled to take on blocks while also giving up ground and to disengage from blockers. It contributed to a few Miami rushes that moved him off the line of scrimmage, enabling running backs to easily reach the second level.
But with Newton facing a new injury and a currently unknown diagnosis, how much time exactly does Newton have to change the trajectory of his career? The odds are currently stacked against him on the roster. While he is unquestionably within the defensive line rotation, it’s easy to expect Washington to value Daron Payne, Tim Settle, Charles Omenihu, and Javon Kinlaw to have higher snap counts than Newton to start the season. Washington has options currently and doesn’t need to force him on the field if the four linemen mentioned are playing at a high level (and injury-free).
If Newton cannot find a sustainable technique to stalemate anchors or generally know how to defeat blocks in the run game, his role will not increase. Even beyond a technical standpoint, Newton needs to develop the functional and core strength to consistently win in these instances and control his gaps. So time is absolutely of the essence for Newton to figure things out.
Newton’s performance against Miami was one of several topics Dre and I discussed on the latest episode of the Trap or Dive Podcast. We broke down the biggest winners and losers following Washington’s preseason opener win against the Dolphins, with George Carmi, co-host of the Big Doug & Carmi Show, joining us to discuss the aftermath.
Podcast:
YouTube:
Comment and let us know your winners and losers after Washington’s preseason opener, and subscribe to the Trap or Dive Podcast.
