Commanders Injury Update: Daron Payne suffers Jones fracture

The Washington Commanders have been dealing with significant injuries since before the season started, and there’s reportedly another one that will affect the rest of their season. DT Daron Payne showed up on the injury report today with a foot injury and was listed as questionable. Now he has been ruled out for Sunday night’s home game against the Philadelphia Eagles. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that Payne suffered a significant foot injury that will land him on injured reserve and keep him out for the foreseeable future. The injury happened in Friday’s practice, which was a relatively quick walk-through.

Daron Payne was drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 draft, and has been a staple on Washington’s defensive line. He’s in the final year of his contract, and was projected to be a trade candidate if the team were sellers at the deadline. Payne’s first priority is getting healthy, but his football future will also be affect by this injury.

It will essentially kill any trade value he may have had, especially if he lands on injured reserve.

While Payne is no longer the player he was at the height of his powers — he had 11.5 sacks during the 2022 season — he remains a formidable presence on the interior and was a bright spot on a Commanders defense with yet unrealized potential. Expect Shy Tuttle to play more in his absence and help a front that is also missing Javon Kinlaw.