Washington Commanders: 29-Year-Old Trade Candidate’s Injury Revealed

Nairavoice | Nov 4, 2026 1h ago 35 0 2 min read

Washington Commanders interior defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw suffered an apparent knee injury in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. Coming off a BYE, Kinlaw did not practice during Week 8 and did not play against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday. This is the second defensive lineman to be placed on injured reserve in the last week, as Daron Payne suffered a season-ending Jones fracture last Friday.

The Washington Commanders’ 29-year-old trade candidate’s injury revealed

8c94043ec771b5f8e2634918a8244a95 Washington Commanders: 29-Year-Old Trade Candidate’s Injury Revealed

According to Adam Schefter, Javon Kinlaw underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn MCL on Tuesday. Kinlaw was regarded as a potential trade candidate ahead of next Tuesday’s trade deadline, with the New Orleans Saints listed as a logical destination. He finished his 2026 campaign, totaling 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, nine stops, eight pressures, three quarterback hits, one sack, and two batted passes across six games.

Injury update: Commanders DL Javon Kinlaw underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday on his MCL.
Now Commanders defensive linemen Kinlaw and Daron Payne both have suffered season-ending injuries in recent weeks. https://t.co/hHqlyexYdx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 4, 2026

Expect Tim Settle and Shy Tuttle to take on expanded roles while Jer’Zhan Newton is working his way back from a torn pectoral. Newton returned to practice last week and participated in a limited capacity but was not activated. Meanwhile, the Commanders promoted Ricky Barber from the practice squad to the active roster.

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Is this the end of his Commanders tenure?

84a810cc5640856bdecfc40ecf6e1ce3 Washington Commanders: 29-Year-Old Trade Candidate’s Injury Revealed

This could very well be Kinlaw’s final season with the Commanders, especially if the front office was willing to trade him next Tuesday before the injury. He is scheduled to earn a $12.9 million base salary, $13.6 million in cash, and a $16.9 million cap hit in 2027. With a standard release, Washington frees up $7 million in cap space while taking on $9.9 million in dead cap, per Over The Cap.