The Washington Commanders announced on December 22 that fourth-round rookie standout Jaylin Lane will be placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Lane’s injury was sustained during the team’s Week 16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. His injured reserve designation will force him to miss Washington’s final two games of the regular season.
While the 2025 season has not gone as the Commanders would have planned based on the expectations following their 2024 run to the NFC Championship, Lane has been one of the team’s bright spots all year.
GettyWashington Commanders rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane was drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL season.
Drafted out of Virginia Tech for his receiving and special teams ability, Lane has flashed significantly in the return game. In the punt game, Lane logged 314 yards and two touchdowns, while adding an additional 56 yards on three kickoff returns. Lane wasn’t as involved in the pass game, as he didn’t record a catch in the team’s four games following their Week 12 bye, according to CBS Sports. Lane will look to continue to grow as a receiver in his sophomore year, as his rookie season’s stat line will finish at 16 receptions across 32 targets for 225 yards.
Lane’s most significant highlight of the year was on a 90-yard punt return touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
Hayley Salvatore, a contributor for the Commanders, marked all the milestones Lanes’ first NFL touchdown achieved. Salvatore reported, “It was the team’s first punt returned for a touchdown since Jamison Crowder took it to the house against the Baltimore Ravens during Week 5 of the 2016 season; it was also the franchise’s first punt returned for a touchdown from a rookie since return specialist Desmond Howard did it on Sept. 13, 1992, against the Atlanta Falcons; and the 90-yard return also ties Jacquez Green’s return in Week 2 of 2002 for the longest in franchise history.”
Lane will look to continue his breakout campaign for the Commanders in 2026.
Commanders claim Jamal Agnew of Waivers
GettyJamal Agnew was released from the Atlanta Falcons after being a healthy scratch in Week 15.
With Jaylin Lane gone for the year, Washington is claiming former All-Pro returner Jamal Agnew off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, December 22. While Agnew didn’t record a target across his 11-game regular season stint with the Falcons, he is credited player in the special teams game. Agnew was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2017, where he was named to the All-Pro first team for his return ability in his rookie season. Agnew was also selected to the 2023 Pro Bowl as a return specialist.
For Agnew, it’s a new opportunity to prove himself, and for the Commanders, they get some extra juice at the return position as the team attempts to finish out the regular season on a high note.
Injury Updates for the Rest of the Commanders’ Roster
Jaylin Lane wasn’t the only Commander dealing with an injury following Week 15. The teams’ full injury report as of Monday, December 22, marks defensive tackle Eddie Goldman as also being placed on injured reserve following a concussion he sustained versus the Eagles. Linebacker Bobby Wagner, defensive tackle Daron Payne, and quarterback Marcus Mariota were all listed as non-participants and are questionable for Week 17. The Commanders will be at home as they prepare to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Commanders Sign Former All-Pro to Replace Injured Standout Rookie appeared first on Heavy Sports.