Redskins place veteran tackle Trent Williams on non-football injury list

Much was made of Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams’ return to the practice facility last week, but it appears as though he won’t suit up at all in 2019.

At the trade deadline, Trent Williams made waves when he reported to the Washington Redskins facility in Ashburn. By reporting ahead of the trade deadline, Williams ensured himself a chance to accrue a full season under league rules, but after a failed physical due to head discomfort, Williams was not given the green light to rejoin the roster.

The helmet discomfort that Williams experienced was due to scarring from a surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his scalp, and after his failure of the physical, the team was given a limited amount of time to find a suitable helmet for Williams and re-attempt the physical.

Now, a week has passed since Williams’ return, and an update has presented itself, but not one that tells of Williams’ return to the active roster. The Washington Redskins announced via their official Twitter page that they have placed Williams on the non-football injury, or NFI, list.

Williams’ designation to the NFI list means a number of things. Williams’ 2019 season is officially over before it began, and it’s increasingly likely that he’s already played his last snap in the nation’s capital.

With Williams on the NFI list, there are also a number of contractual stipulations that arise, as noted by D.C. sports reporter Craig Hoffman. The Redskins can opt not to pay Williams the guarantees he’s due, and they can also attempt to toll his contract if they please. As Hoffman notes, however, this move would likely be met by a challenge by Williams’ camp, and Williams would likely win.

This situation is still far from settled, and a true conclusion might not be found until February or March. But for the 2019 season, one thing is certain; Williams will not play, and his presence will still loom large over D.C.