Commanders insider gives worrisome update on Kam Curl’s injury

The Washington Commanders’ regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars is one week away. While the team got through preseason without major injuries, Chase Young and Brian Robinson are out the first four games.

Additionally, it’s unclear if Logan Thomas will feature in Week 1. The veteran tight end is off the PUP list and has been practicing, but we’ll know more about his status when Washington releases its first injury report next Wednesday.

While it’s been largely positive on the injury front, fans were given a big scare Wednesday when standout safety Kam Curl was spotted at practice wearing sweatpants and a sling (and potentially a cast) over his right arm.

Ron Rivera didn’t help matters after practice when he stuck to the NFL’s rulebook. Basically, the head coach wasn’t required to provide an update and won’t do so until the first injury report ahead of the Sept. 11 opener at FedEx Field.

Luckily, team reporters did some digging.

Per The Athletic’s Ben Standig, Curl suffered a thumb injury that may have required surgery. There’s no timetable for his return.

Commanders safety Kam Curl reportedly nursing a thumb injury that may have required surgery.

Don’t get panicked by the “no timetable to return” nugget. The lack of clarity surrounding Curl’s injury simply means we don’t know when he’ll return. The fact the injury may have required a surgical repair, though, suggests the versatile defender’s Week 1 status could be in jeopardy.

On the flip side, this could be a minor injury and Curl could be in the Commanders’ starting lineup next Sunday. After Wednesday’s practice, fellow safety Bobby McCain told NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay that Curl will only miss a few days.

Perhaps McCain knows something reporters don’t, which would check out considering he spends every day with Curl. Or maybe the 29-year-old vet was sugarcoating the situation so as to avoid spreading panic.

On another note, Washington just finalized their 53-man roster.

The fact Curl avoided being placed on injured reserve, which would knock him out four weeks, suggests his thumb ailment isn’t too serious.

But who’s to say, really? Any time the word surgery is thrown around with an incredibly important player fans are going to get worried.

It goes without saying, but Curl is as indispensable as they come. According to Pro Football Focus, Curl played 878 defensive snaps last season. Here’s how those snaps were distributed in terms of where he lined up on the field.

• 297 at free safety
• 244 in the nickel
• 240 in the box
• 63 along the defensive
• 34 as a perimeter corner

That versatility doesn’t grow on trees.

We wish we had a more thorough update, but all we can do is wait for Washington’s word. Did Curl undergo surgery? How long, if at all, will he be sidelined? These are all pertinent questions that are getting put on ice for the time being.