It's no secret that the Washington Commanders have dealt with some devastating injury problems through the first six weeks of the campaign. It's been one complication after another, and head coach Dan Quinn has yet another headache to deal with heading into a bitter division showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.
There is anxiousness among the fan base regarding the status of Dorance Armstrong Jr. The defensive end, who's in the midst of a breakout campaign, dipped in and out of Washington's loss to the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury. This is a short week, so it'll be a race against time to prove his fitness before potentially locking horns with his old employers this weekend.
Armstrong will be fighting to prove his health. But if he can't go, it further depletes a Commanders pass-rush that isn't exactly littered with explosiveness or sufficient depth.
Commanders could be without Dorance Armstrong Jr. against the Cowboys
Head coach Dan Quinn revealed to the media that Armstrong participated in a walkthrough, which is a positive development. However, he won't know the official outlook until the former Kansas prospect ramps up his workload in the coming days.
"He was able to do the walkthrough. I was encouraged by that. But I'll have a better feel for him tomorrow [Thursday] as we get a little more movement [in practice]."Dan Quinn
The Commanders brought in a contingency plan if Armstrong is unable to participate. Washington signed Drake Jackson this week, who's missed a lot of football over the last two years but was a highly touted college player coming out of USC. He also knows Adam Peters well from their time together on the San Francisco 49ers.
Von Miller, Jacob Martin, and Jalyn Holmes are the other edge rushers on Washington's roster. They don't have anybody who can realistically be brought up from the practice squad, so the concerns couldn't be more evident if Armstrong is ruled out.
Dallas might have some problems on defense right now, but the Cowboys' offense is a formidable obstacle to overcome. If quarterback Dak Prescott gets time in the pocket with no consistent pressure coming his way, he's going to pick Washington's secondary apart. With wide receiver CeeDee Lamb trending towards suiting up after a lengthy absence, the Commanders' chances don't exactly improve without Armstrong.
Time will tell. Fans will be eagerly awaiting developments, but this could legitimately go either way. Armstrong is an integral part of Washington's defensive strategy, and the team's other edge options could crumble without him.
This is yet another problem that Quinn didn't need. And fans will be hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.