It's no secret that the Washington Commanders dealt with some torrid injury luck last season. Any issue this time around is magnified, and veteran linebacker Frankie Luvu's uncertain status is far from ideal.
Luvu left Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles early, which disrupted the rhythm of Daronte Jones' new defense. He's reportedly dealing with a minor groin strain, and his status for Washington's crucial Week 2 divisional clash with the Dallas Cowboys is now in doubt.
That would be a massive loss.
Commanders need to think quickly if Frankie Luvu misses time
The undrafted free agent out of Washington State is the inspirational leader on defense. Luvu earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, but last year was disappointing after being asked to spend too much time on the edge.
Jones immediately switched him back to his off-ball role, even making him the green dot as Washington's defensive play-caller after a strong summer. Luvu is an integral part of the strategy, and the miscommunication issues at Lincoln Financial Field when he went out of the lineup only reinforced that.
Luvu is a driving force; the heart of everything good at the defensive second level. Not having him against the Cowboys would be a setback, especially with Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens for quarterback Dak Prescott to depend on.
It's an all-hands-on-deck scenario. Luvu's loss would sting, but that is also why general manager Adam Peters worked so hard to improve defensive depth throughout a busy third offseason at the helm.
The Commanders signed Leo Chenal in free agency. They spent the No. 7 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on Sonny Styles. This would be the starting tandem in Luvu's absence, but with an injury concern hanging over Jordan Magee, elevating Ale Kaho off the practice squad in Week 2 wouldn't be a bad idea.
Frankie Luvu would be sorely missed if he cannot go for Commanders in Week 2
It's not exactly what the Commanders had planned just one game into the season. But it's not a new situation either.
Almost every influential figure spent time on the shelf last season. Luvu was among the few who stayed healthy, but he was forced out of position. Jones will have to roll with the punches, and the margin for error is already shrinking after Washington's opening-day reverse.
Being cautious is key. Luvu cannot risk this problem getting worse. If he has to miss one game to be available for the remaining 15, he should. He might not like it, but it's the only viable option.
Luvu probably won't be seen much in practice this week. This will give Styles the chance to take charge, with Chenal providing experienced assistance. That should make things more cohesive, but their task of counteracting Dallas' high-octane offense won't be any easier.
It's a wait-and-see scenario, of course. Luvu's status this weekend remains undecided. But for Jones, this is about covering all his bases and planning contingencies to ensure he doesn't lose momentum after an encouraging start to his tenure as an NFL defensive play-caller.
Otherwise, the Cowboys have the firepower to make them pay. And starting the season 0-2 with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next up would be disastrous.
Let's hope for good news in the coming days.
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