The Washington Commanders could be without their top run-stuffing defensive tackle for Sunday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Javon Kinlaw injured his knee in Washington’s Monday night loss to the San Francisco. Despite a week off, Kinlaw doesn’t appear ready for Week 8.
“Javon, likely gonna be tough to make it for this weekend,” head coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday.
Kinlaw is having a solid year leading Washington’s defensive line, which is ranked 14th in run defense. The 6-foot-5, 319-pound defensive tackle has started all 23 games for the Commanders since signing with them in March 2025.
While Washington likely won’t have Kinlaw against the Eagles, some good news is on the way. Third-year defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, who
suffered a torn pectoral muscle in August, returned to practice on Wednesday. The Commanders opened his 21-day window, giving him three weeks to either be fully cleared to rejoin the 53-man roster or go on season-ending injured reserve. Generally, when teams open a player’s 21-day window, they’re close to a return.
“Johnny Newton’s 21-day window was activated,” Quinn said. "Man, he has worked his ass off. He was injured in preseason game number one, and man, I’m pumped to have him back out at practice.”
The 6-foot-2, 295-pound Newton won’t provide as much help against the run as Kinlaw. He’s more known as a pass rusher. Unfortunately, Newton has yet to live up to his potential as the No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Washington hopes changes to defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ scheme will change that.
On Sunday, they’ll face a battered Eagles roster already missing quarterback Jalen Hurts, and it could also be missing star running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley didn’t practice on Wednesday with hamstring and back injuries.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' defensive line gets some good and bad news
