It’s been a rough go of it on the injury front for the Washington Commanders this season. The headliner of course is starting QB Jayden Daniels, who missed time earlier this season with an ankle injury and is now out indefinitely with an elbow injury (though he should return this season).
But in some good news for Commanders fans, Washington announced on Thursday that they have opened the practice window for edge defender Drake Jackson. A former second-round pick out of USC by the 49ers back in 2022, Jackson played in 15 games as a rookie and had 14 tackles, three sacks, an interception, and eight passes defensed. In a sophomore campaign that was cut short by injury, Jackson had seven tackles, three sacks, and a pass defensed in just eight games.
Jackson has struggled with injuries since then and hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2023. He was cut by the 49ers back in the spring and the Commanders signed him to their active roster in October, where he was immediately placed on Injured Reserve (IR) with a knee injury. Now that his practice window is open, Washington has 21 days to activated him off IR — if he’s not ready by then, he will revert to IR for the rest of the season. In the meantime, Jackson can practice with the team as he continues his recovery.
The Washington Commanders Have Been Hit with a Multitude of Injuries
Kevin C. Cox/GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 16: Kerry Hyder Jr. #92 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts with Drake Jackson #95 after Jackson’s sack during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons of the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
When the Commanders signed Jackson, they knew he’d be missing time recovering from a knee injury. That was expected. The same can’t be said for the other injuries they’ve sustained, however. Daniels is the big one — the second-year quarterback was an ascending star in his rookie season, running away with Offensive Rookie of the Year and looking like a surefire top-10 signal-caller in the league right away. This year has been tougher for him with his injuries.
And it’s not just Daniels. Star WR Terry McLaurin has been in and out of the lineup, as has his running mate, offseason trade acquisition WR Deebo Samuel. RB Austin Ekeler and WRs Noah Brown and Luke McCaffrey are on IR, as well. Defensively, starting CBs Trey Amos and Marshon Lattimore are also on IR.
The Washington Commanders Face a Critical International Game in Week 11
The Commanders are 3-7, having lost five straight, and are on the brink of falling out of the playoff picture. The NFC is loaded this year, with seven teams already with six or more wins. NFC teams are likely to need 10 or more wins for a shot at even a wild card berth, which means the Commanders need to win out to have a realistic chance.
That would be a herculean accomplishment if Washington can pull it off, but they should be getting Daniels back within a few weeks — he may not even be placed on IR. In the meantime, the Commanders travel to Madrid to take on the Dolphins, a team in a similar position.
Win that game, and Washington has contests against the Broncos, Vikings, and Giants. That’s a winnable stretch, if they can build some momentum.
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