Redskins Jonathan Allen progressing nicely, could be back by Week 15

Redskins defensive end Jonathan Allen was placed on injured reserve earlier in the season with a foot injury, but he could be due to return by Week 15.

The Redskins started the season with an unfamiliar push on the defensive line. It was a push that could be attributed to the arrival of Jonathan Allen and the emergence of Matt Ioannidis. The team cherished this newfound success for some time, but Allen would ultimately go down early in the year, and the line has never been the same without him. Ioannidis has struggled to find success, and reserve players have been tasked with the duty of providing an unexpected impact. Luckily for the team, however, Allen could be back soon.

Allen is eligible to return in Week 15, and he appears to be well on his way to a full recovery. He was seen doing limited drills in practice today, and he did not appear to be struggling much with his injured foot. Were he to return in Week 15, it could be a crucial development for the Redskins, who are still in the hunt for a wild card berth. The harder games are in Weeks 13 and 14, but with Allen’s presence on the line, the games in Weeks 15, 16, and 17 get a little bit easier.

Still, it is imperative that the Redskins don’t rush back a player like Allen. The long-term well-being of the player is more important than the short-term prospects, and the team has been able to get by without Allen in recent weeks. Anthony Lanier has been playing well, and Stacy McGee had his best performance of the year against the New York Giants.

Nevertheless, the Redskins have simply been plugging the hole left by Allen’s absence. But in reality, there hasn’t been an equal replacement for the standout rookie. The Alabama product was playing at a very high level before his injury, and he’ll likely do the same when he comes back. Immediate improvement will be seen, and we could see this defense return back to the success they had against the Rams and the Raiders.

Next: Previewing the Redskins' Week 13 matchup vs. the Cowboys

This is a positive development, but for now, the focus is on the Cowboys. The Redskins need to win that game for Allen’s return to matter. It’s a winnable contest, but Dallas won’t go down without a fight. Allen will come back when he can. But right now, it’s up to the team to win for him, so that when he comes back, he’ll be a key player in their playoff chase.