The Commanders just dropped a bombshell on their injury report, adding star defensive tackle Daron Payne to the list, listed as limited with a knee injury. Talk about a gut punch right before the season opener against the Eagles on Sunday.
Payne’s Knee Is A Major Red Flag
Listen, folks, this isn’t just another name on the report. Payne being limited with a knee issue is a massive concern. The source explicitly calls it “not a good sign” for the team, and you know what? They’re not wrong. Losing a guy like Payne or even having him at less than 100 percent changes everything for that defensive line. That’s a huge piece of their interior defense, and the Eagles are not exactly a team you want to face under strength.
More Names Piling Up
And it’s not just Payne. While defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw was also added to Thursday’s report, he managed to be a full participant despite a back injury, so that’s a small win. But they’ve got other guys still nursing injuries and stuck in limited status for a second straight day. We’re talking about outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson with a knee, running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt with a groin issue, and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh still dealing with a calf. Sure, center Mick Allegretti, linebacker Jordan Magee, quarterback Marcus Mariota, defensive end Charles Omenihu, and tight end Ben Sinnott were all full participants again, which is good, but those limited guys, especially Payne, are the real problem here.
Sunday’s clash with the Eagles was already gonna be a battle, but with Payne’s knee injury hanging over the team, it just got a whole lot tougher. Can they overcome these early season injury woes? We’ll find out when they kick off, but this isn’t the kind of news you want days before game one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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