It’s only Week 3, and the Washington Commanders have been hit hard with injuries. First, star left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps in training camp, followed by defensive tackle Johnny Newton’s torn pectoral muscle. In Week 1, the Commanders lost linebacker Frankie Luvu and tight end Chig Okonkwo.
In last week's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Washington watched as quarterback Jayden Daniels, left tackle Brandon Coleman, right guard Sam Cosmi and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw all left with injuries. Daniels’ injury was the most significant for obvious reasons, dislocating his left non-throwing elbow for the second time in 10 months.
The Commanders did receive good news on Daniels. He will not need surgery or a stint on injured reserve.
Unfortunately, the Commanders will face the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday without Daniels, Tunsil, Okonkwo, Luvu, Newton and safety Nick Cross.
Another player missing is second-year cornerback Trey Amos. The 2025 second-round pick was expected to start on the outside for the Commanders this season, but sprained his ankle the day after he returned to practice last month. Amos fractured his fibula last November and spent the offseason working back from that injury.
Amos began the regular season on injured reserve, meaning he'd need to miss at least the first four games before he could return. With Washington playing its third game of the season on Sunday, could Amos be close to returning?
Speculation about Amos has ramped up. He traveled with the team to Dallas last week and also recently shared a video of himself working outand running on social media.
Naturally, head coach Dan Quinn was asked about Amos during his Friday press conference.
“No updates yet at that space, but I can say that I like the speed and the on-field work, and you guys have seen him some on the field too; that, to me as a coach, is encouraging to know,” Quinn said. “Okay, sometimes the player needs to know that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger and getting more open, so I’m feeling that and he’s not missing any steps along the way. And I think that’s an important part of the process of rehabbing to say, ‘nail this one, then this one, the speeds.’ When you’re going through that, it’s also volume, how many times, how much yards. He’s hitting all the markers.”
Does that sound familiar?
Quinn did note that he’s hitting all the markers, so that should be interpreted as a good sign. While Amos shouldn’t be considered a savior when he is eligible to return, Washington’s struggling secondary badly needs him.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Dan Quinn provides update on injured defensive starter
