The Washington Commanders need all hands on deck for their NFC Championship showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a relatively clean bill of health for head coach Dan Quinn's squad aside from one concern surrounding an established figure.
Winning in the trenches — or holding their own at the very least — is essential if the Commanders want to defy the odds one more time. Losing stud right guard Sam Cosmi for the game and way beyond that with a torn ACL is going to be sorely felt on the offensive side. There was also a worry about Pro Bowl defensive lineman Daron Payne.
Payne was playing well against the Detroit Lions before leaving the game through injury. He came back into the mix but wasn't the same. The former first-round pick out of Alabama later revealed that he suffered a gruesome dislocated finger at Ford Field and had the X-ray picture to prove it.
There didn't seem too much doubt about Payne's potential involvement, especially considering the Commanders are just one win away from the Super Bowl. Even so, the Pro Bowler didn't practice in any capacity this week.
Washington officially listed Payne as questionable for the contest. Seventh-round edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste and third-string quarterback Jeff Driskel were the two others with the same status. Aside from Cosmi's long-term complication, it's all systems go.
Commanders are severely depleted in the trenches at the worst time
There was a slightly anxious wait for fans to get further clarification of Payne's involvement. That didn't take long to arrive as the Commanders officially ruled him out on Saturday.
DT Daron Payne (knee/finger) has been downgraded to out https://t.co/Z3lgHgBwAY
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 25, 2025
Payne's production dipped significantly after the injury in Detroit. Considering there was also a knee issue attached, the Commanders couldn't risk having him on the field if he was potentially a weak link.
Not having Payne and Cosmi — two mainstays in recent years — isn't exactly ideal. The Commanders are depleted in the trenches against an Eagles team that imposes their will versus inferior opposition. It's not a complete disaster, but the next-man-up mentality must come to the fore.
Johnny Newton and Jonathan Allen will be tasked with the lion's share of responsibilities to fill the void. Sheldon Day could also feature on the rotation. The Commanders also elevated Carl Davis from the practice squad. He's a space-hogging presence against the run who can free up space for others to do damage.
Nobody was going to miss this game willingly. Payne was part of the old guard, so this is the first real taste of winning he's experienced since arriving as a first-round pick. Unfortunately for him, these finger and knee problems were too much to overcome.
It's not going to cost Washington the game — far from it. They still have rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, so writing off their chances entirely is extremely foolish.
It would be nice to have Payne, but finding the right coping mechanisms is a difficult yet attainable objective.
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