The Washington Commanders will have to soldier on without one of their most reliable veterans.
Several reporters confirmed Friday that defensive tackle Daron Payne suffered a major leg injury during training. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Payne is expected to be sidelined “for the foreseeable future,” and will likely be placed on IR.
Payne is scheduled to undergo further testing on Saturday.
#Commanders standout DT Daron Payne suffered a major foot injury today in practice that will sideline him for the foreseeable future and likely land him on IR, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. Payne will undergo more tests tomorrow. But another heavy blow for Washington.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2026
Rapoport added that there is “a possibility” that an injury could end Payne’s season.
Payne, Washington’s first-round pick in 2018, has been a steady force on the team’s defensive line for the past decade. He has also been the picture of health up to this point.
Payne has played in 136 of the Commanders’ 139 regular-season games since his rookie season, including the first six games of the 2026 campaign.
The former Pro Bowler recorded one sack, 14 tackles, and 5 quarterback hits in his six games.