The Washington Commanders got some unexpected bad news Tuesday.
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was placed on injured reserve because his knee injury hasn’t improved. With the Los Angeles Rams coming to town on Sunday, the Commanders’ coaches must prepare this defense for Rams coach Sean McVay to attempt to run the ball down their throats.
The Rams are through eight games averaging 5.8 yards per offensive play, which is the ninth-best in the NFL this season. Even more, knowing the Rams will plan on running the ball more, they are already averaging 4.7 yards per carry, which is sixth-best in the NFL.
Losing big men like Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne means the Commanders need help against the run. Kinlaw and Payne weren’t quick pass rushers, but they
were the Commanders’ best run defenders. Payne is now gone for the season and Kinlaw for at least four weeks. The Rams have already run for 1,004 yards, the sixth-highest total at this point in the season.
McVay will target the Commanders’ newest weakness: their run defense, which has the fifth-most first downs this season (60). Even more, running back Kyren Williams actually leads the NFL in rushing success rate at 62.5%. No doubt, McVay will load up on the run until the Commanders’ defense shows it can stop the run on Sunday. Williams leads the Rams with 548 rushing yards, averaging a steady 4.9 yards per carry. If that isn’t enough, RB Blake Corum has gained 382 rushing yards, averaging an even more impressive 5.2 yards per carry.
That means more snaps and more fatigue for Shy Tuttle and Tim Settle inside. It also means more is needed from outside defensive linemen Charles Omenihu and Deatrich Wise. Both are recently coming off of injuries, and the extra snaps could jeopardize their pitch count.
Perhaps this leads to Jer’Zhan Newton’s return? Newton has frankly been a disappointment in the 4-man front, getting pushed around in 2024 and 2025. However, might the Commanders try him more on the outside in a 3-man front, giving Omenihu and Wise a break?
Remember, the Commanders elevated Byron Cowart from the practice squad last week. If they liked his effort, look for Cowart back this week to help against the Rams’ running game. The Commanders also have Ricky Barber on the practice squad. At 6-3, 295, they might like to elevate him some as well until Kinlaw can return.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders suffer big loss; how can they respond?
