The Washington Commanders have no room for passengers if they want to get back among the contenders. And one team legend laid out the blunt truth about the outlook for an injury-prone star facing an uncertain future.
There are very few players around the league who've gone through more injury hardship than Noah Brown over the last year. The wide receiver suffered an internal problem that required kidney surgery in 2024. He was carted off during mandatory minicamp with a knee injury. Then, it was a groin injury in Week 2. The latest — a hip issue in only his second game back — landed him on injured reserve once again.
The Hail Mary miracle man is out of contract this offseason. Washington's decision-makers gave him a new deal last time around. However, Brian Mitchell doesn't believe the same will happen again in 2026.
Brian Mitchell doesn't believe the Commanders should bring back Noah Brown in 2026
Mitchell laid out Brown's situation perfectly. He came into the club with injury concerns, and they've reared their head almost constantly. Now is the perfect time to look elsewhere. The Commanders have no other option, given how things have unfolded.
"I know you can't [keep him around]. He came in here with that reputation. He was injured a good bit last year. He got injured, basically, most of this year. You can't roll those dice anymore. You got snake eyes in three."Brian Mitchell
While Noah Brown always will have a place in Commanders' fans hearts, his injury history is a concern. He hasn't played a full season in 5 years and this year was no different. Can't roll those dice again. #NoahBrown #Commanders #NFL #Injury #Football pic.twitter.com/8sEj3YoMa3
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) December 17, 2025
Head coach Dan Quinn is a loyal guy. He knows Brown well and respects him as an understated performer. At the same time, this is a business, and his concerning trajectory means the former Ohio State star cannot be trusted to put together a consistent run of games anymore.
Mitchell can see it. Fans are well aware of the ongoing frustrations. It's not going to go unnoticed by Washington's staff as they begin to decipher who stays and who goes in the coming weeks.
It's been one setback after another for Brown. He remains determined to bounce back, based on his recent social media post, but that should be somewhere other than Washington. The Commanders need to get younger and faster across the board. There is also lingering speculation about Brandon Aiyuk's possible arrival if he's released by the San Francisco 49ers, which would factor into the equation.
Brown is experienced enough to know what comes next. What matters to him now is getting healthy before free agency begins. If he does this, it would be a surprise if he didn't get a shot to catch on elsewhere.
Everyone associated with the Commanders will wish Brown nothing but the best. And they'll always have the Hail Mary.