The Washington Commanders need all hands on deck in pursuit of an upset win at the Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Conference championship game. Wednesday's injury report raised some alarm bells regarding one of their top-level performers.
Bobby Wagner rolled his ankle during Washington's sensational Wild Card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The perennial All-Pro linebacker toughed it out as all good leaders do. However, the issue is still bothering him in the days after.
There isn't long for Wagner to recuperate. The Commanders played on the road late on Sunday and went to Ford Field for Saturday Night Football. That puts them at a disadvantage, so time is of the essence.
Commanders LB Bobby Wagner didn't practice for the second straight day
Wagner was listed as a non-participant to kick-off preparations on Tuesday. That was nothing to overly concern considering he'd have probably got a rest day in any case. His lack of activity on Wednesday with one practice left before the final injury designations are determined represents something to monitor if nothing else.
Player | Practice Status |
|---|---|
Jamison Crowder | Limited (hamstring) |
Zach Ertz | Limited (NIR Rest) |
Clelin Ferrell | Limited (knee) |
Jordan Magee | DNP (hamstring) |
Bobby Wagner | DNP (ankle) |
Zane Gonzalez | Full (hip) |
Daron Payne | Limited (finger) |
Ben Sinnott | Limited (shoulder) |
John Bates | Full (shoulder) |
Dominique Hampton | Full (back) |
Marshon Lattimore | Full (hamstring) |
Frankie Luvu | Full (shoulder) |
Colson Yankoff | Full (hamstring) |
Brandon Coleman | Full (shoulder) |
This is a mild problem for now. Wagner is an experienced professional who knows how to prepare his body. He also knows the magnitude of this upcoming occasion and how to play through pain.
It would be a bombshell of epic proportions if Wagner isn't on the field this weekend. At the same time, his presence could do more harm than good if he is nowhere near 100 percent versus an elite Lions offense.
The former second-round selection needs to be marshaling things at the defensive second level. Wagner is the pre-snap communicator, getting everyone in the correct positions and ensuring they are aware of their responsibilities on any given down. That's extremely important considering Ben Johnson — a man who was once touted to be Washington's head coach before things turned sour — runs an explosive, creative offense capable of racking up points and yardage at will.
Things should become clearer in the next 24 hours. Seeing Wagner on the practice field in some capacity would alleviate fears to a certain extent. If he can't go, that doesn't bode well for his hopes of making a lasting contribution.
The Commanders have erred on the side of caution with any injuries this season. But this is a win-or-go-home environment, so taking a little extra risk if Wagner approves is a possibility.
Wagner is eager to get involved. His presence would be sorely missed, but how he responds to treatment and any practice involvement on Friday will ultimately determine his fate.
Watch this space...