Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne suffered a major foot injury in Friday’s practice that is expected to keep him out for an extended stretch. It’s the latest hit for a 1-4-1 team that already lost Terry McLaurin for the season.
Payne was a late addition to Friday’s injury report and was listed as questionable after a limited practice. Hours later, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that the injury would sideline him for the foreseeable future and likely land him on injured reserve. Payne is scheduled for more tests Saturday.
IR means at least four games.
What Daron Payne’s injury means for Washington
The timing couldn’t be worse in Ashburn. Payne is the Commanders’ most obvious name before the Nov. deadline. 10. ESPN ranked him sixth on its list of top trade candidates, and he sits at the top of our Commanders trade rumors tracker. We made the case this week that his expiring $28 million deal made him a sell-now piece, as the contract expired in February.
A team shopping a 29-year-old defensive tackle isn’t likely to give up much for one headed to IR with a foot injury. Unless the tests come back better than expected, the question of whether Washington trades Payne probably answers itself.
On the field, Payne has been more of a run stopper than a pass rusher this season. He has one sack and 17 pressures in 292 snaps, and his 67.9 PFF run-defense grade is 22nd among 126 qualified interior defensive linemen. His 55.6 pass-rush grade ranks 101st.
The depth behind him is thin. Payne is the only nose tackle on ESPN’s Commanders depth chart. Javon Kinlaw (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday, and Jer’Zhan Newton (pectoral) is questionable as he works his way back from injured reserve, according to the team’s game status report. Tim Settle and Shy Tuttle soaked up most of Payne’s snaps.
Saturday’s tests should tell Washington how long it will be without him.
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