The Washington Commanders placed defensive tackles Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw and running back Jeremy McNichols on injured reserve Tuesday, Nov. 3, taking two starters off the interior of their defensive line ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The team announced the moves on X, as Bleacher Report noted. All three will have to miss at least the next four games, according to Commanders On SI.
The Kinlaw move is the new part
Payne going to IR was expected. He suffered a season-ending Jones fracture in his foot at practice last Friday, and McGraw Media covered that diagnosis over the weekend.
Kinlaw is the surprise, a word beat reporter Ben Standig used too, per Heavy. He’s been dealing with a knee injury from the 49ers game and sat out Sunday night’s win over the Eagles. Before that, he had 13 tackles and a sack this season. Washington signed him to a three-year, $45 million deal before the 2025 season.
Payne, 29, is in the final year of a four-year, $90 million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
What about McNichols?
McNichols hurt his foot against Philadelphia, not long after he came back from a quadriceps injury that cost him time earlier this season. The Washington Post’s Tashan Reed reported he’s expected to miss multiple months.
Who fills in up front
Third-year defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton is the likeliest to absorb the snaps. He’s in his 21-day practice window coming off IR himself, so Washington has to activate him before he can play.
Why it matters
McGraw Media’s read: at 2-4-1, Washington doesn’t have much room left, and it just lost the two tackles it paid to anchor the middle of the defense. Payne’s absence was already priced in. Kinlaw’s wasn’t, and it leaves the Commanders leaning on a player who hasn’t been activated yet against a Rams offense that will test that depth right away. With the trade deadline on Nov. 10, the front office now has a clearer picture of where its holes are. Whether it buys a short-term fix or plays out the string with what it has will say a lot about how it views this season.
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