The Commanders are heading into their second practice day without a couple of their heavy hitters, and frankly, it’s not looking good for their Week 2 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Linebacker Frankie Luvu and tight end Chig Okonkwo both missed practice again on Thursday, putting their status for Sunday’s game in some serious doubt.
Two Stars in Serious Doubt, Plus a New Scare
Luvu, who got dinged with a hamstring injury, and Okonkwo, battling a groin issue, were completely sidelined. Luvu’s hamstring went south near the end of the first half against Philly, and Okonkwo’s groin pulled him out of that Eagles game entirely. We’re talking about two absolute veterans here, guys who usually can tough it out. But the word from the team on their status? “Not great.” That’s not the kind of update you want to hear when you’re gearing up for a big Week 2 matchup. It puts a ton of pressure on the rest of the squad.
And just when you think it can’t get worse, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw suddenly showed up on Thursday’s injury report with a brand-new back issue that kept him completely out of practice. Back problems are no joke, especially for a big D-lineman, and for it to pop up out of nowhere like this? Yikes. Head Coach Dan Quinn is supposed to give us the lowdown on Kinlaw on Friday, but the immediate reaction has to be pure worry for the defensive front.
The Limited List Keeps Growing
It’s not just the guys fully out, either. The “limited participation” list is still looking pretty hefty, telling us that a bunch of players are just not 100 percent yet. Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson is still nursing a knee issue, even though he did manage to get back on the field before Week 1 after missing some initial time. And receiver Jaylin Lane is also stuck in limited mode with a groin problem. You need those speed guys healthy!
The defensive line depth is taking a hit too. Charles Omenihu is limited with an ankle injury, and another edge rusher, Odafe Oweh, who also had to sit out some practice time before Week 1 with a calf injury, is still being held back. And let’s not forget Dorance Armstrong; he’s on that limited list, still grinding his way back from a torn ACL he suffered all the way back last season. That’s a lot of impact players on the defensive front who aren’t at full strength. Can they hold up against Dallas?
Now for a little ray of sunshine: defensive lineman Daron Payne was a full go at practice. That’s big news, especially since he’s been dealing with a knee issue since last Thursday. Safety Tyler Owens, running back Kaytron Allen, and offensive guard Chris Paul also participated fully, even while managing their own ankle and knee issues. It’s good to see some veterans pushing through and getting back to full reps.
So yeah, going into Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders are facing some serious questions, especially on that defensive side of the ball. Are Luvu and Okonkwo going to somehow suit up? What exactly is going on with Kinlaw’s back? All eyes are going to be on Coach Quinn’s Friday update. Fans are gonna be refreshing those injury reports like crazy, hoping for some miraculous turnaround before Sunday kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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