Trey Amos is now eligible to return from injured reserve. The cornerback missed the best part of the year with a fractured fibula and ankle sprain, but the Washington Commanders weren't going to commit one way or the other.
When probed about whether Amos' 21-day return window would be triggered, head coach Dan Quinn was noncommittal. He stated that it was to be determined, which only clouds his outlook further.
Plenty of mystery surrounds Amos' ankle problem. And not much of it is good.
Commanders aren't yet ready to commit on Trey Amos' return
Amos went down during his second practice back at training camp. After being ruled out initially, Quinn didn't seem overly enthusiastic about any timeline. Placing him on injured reserve to start the season also drew plenty of dismay from the fan base.
The Commanders now face another big decision.
Amos' workout videos on social media suggest he might be close, but that's just the snippet he wants everyone to see. Washington will factor everything into the equation before making a judgment, and it's been a long time since he was on an NFL field.
This remains a step-by-step process. The Commanders need Amos to be healthy and back to his best. He looked the part as a rookie before a cruel setback. And if he can get back to that level, the Ole Miss product should be able to form a prolific partnership with Amik Robertson.
That won't happen right away. And if the Commanders don't designate Amos to return immediately after being out for most of two months, there could be more to his ankle sprain than met the eye initially.
Time will tell. Quinn wasn't going to say anything definitive, which probably means discussions must be had with the medical staff and the player before deciding on further action.
Commanders must bring Trey Amos along gradually when he's designated to return
And even when he does get the green light, Amos needs time to find his football legs again.
Until then, the Commanders will keep relying on Robertson, Rasul Douglas, and Fabian Moreau. They are defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' preferred trio, with Mike Sainristil falling into irrelevance. They've played well, but Amos will upgrade the unit if he gets better luck moving forward.
He'll be itching to get back involved. But the Commanders won't hesitate to be extra cautious with the 2025 second-round pick if they decide he needs a little extra time.
That wouldn't be ideal, but it's possible nonetheless.
Amos has promise. The Commanders believed they got a steal when he slipped through the cracks and into their laps at No. 61 overall last year. But if the corner cannot stay healthy, he's no use to anybody.
Getting his 21-day return window activated would be a big boost. After that, it's about ramping up his workload, making sure the ankle is strong, and gradually slotting him into the rotation before a full workload.
Just when that'll be is the big question nobody knows the answer to right now.
Amos will plead his case, but the decision is out of his hands. And Quinn's hesitancy didn't inspire much confidence, even though it would have been easy to do so.
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