The Commanders front seven has been hit hard by injuries recently, with head coach Dan Quinn reporting four new issues for that part of his defense.
Interior defensive lineman Johnny Newton’s dealing with the most worrisome issue. He has a pectoral injury incurred during Friday’s preseason game versus Miami
and is seeing a specialist in New York about how to handle it. Quinn said there’s concern that it’s a long-term issue.If the pec is torn and requires surgery, the injury involved a prolonged recovery and could be season-ending. Quinn said he would have an update for the media on Thursday.
Linebacker Jordan Magee hurt his shoulder in the Dolphins game and he’ll be held out this week, but it’s nothing that should impact him for Week 1. The Commanders signed veteran linebacker Krys Barnes to help fill that void.
The Commanders are currently working without their top edge rushers. K’Lavon Chaisson suffered a knee injury during last week’s joint practice against Miami and Odafe Oweh’s dealing with a calf strain, but neither issue is considered long term. The Commanders are being cautious/smart with both players, who are indispensable and vital to Washington’s defensive success.
It will create chances for reserves to show what they can do.
“The first lesson, with KC and Oweh out, here’s an opportunity for some others,” Quinn said in his Wednesday press conference. “The second lesson is, ‘what are you going to do with it?’ I don’t love injuries at all, I like when people recognize there’s an opportunity. What are they going to do about it?”
Quinn also said that interior defensive lineman Tim Settle hit an important marker in his recovery from a calf strain and could be back to practice as early as Wednesday. The Commanders have a ramp-up period to help ensure a proper return to play, which was enacted with center Nick Allegretti and tight end John Bates on Tuesday and will be with the players mentioned above.
