OUT OF SEASON: Commanders Are Set to Loose Key Experienced Star Who Is Set to Undergo Surgery, No Timeline For Return

Moving ahead, the Washington Commanders will be missing a major member of their 2024 rookie class, as well as their team.

NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay reported that rookie defensive tackle and second-round pick Jer’Zhan Newton would have surgery on his left foot for a partial Jones fracture.

It’s the same condition that needed surgery on his right foot in 2023, when Newton won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award after playing six games at the University of Illinois.

Washington’s head coach, Dan Quinn, said Finlay there was no timetable for Newton’s comeback.

“Dan Quinn says 2nd rounder Johnny Newton has an injury to his other foot, not the same foot as his college season but the same injury and has a procedure scheduled for next week,” Finlay stated.

According to My Health, a Jones fracture is a broken fifth metatarsal bone in the foot that normally requires surgery and “may take 6 weeks to several months to heal.”

Commanders Deal With Trade Rumours at DT
Since picking Newton with the 36th overall choice, the Commanders have been dealing with trade rumours involving standout defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

According to Commander Country’s Terence Watson, Newton appears to be a clear replacement for Allen, who inked a four-year, $72 million contract extension in July 2021.

“Whenever you have a disgruntled player on the roster and a new coach and defensive scheme coming in … things don’t always work out for the player — no matter how talented that player is or has been for the franchise in the past,” Watson stated. “This could be what eventually happens to Allen; Quinn came in and drafted another three-tech defensive tackle in Jer’Zhan Newton … a player with — on paper — the same size, quickness, and play style as Allen.”

Allen ultimately snapped in 2023 after learning about the Commanders’ problems. Since Allen joined the franchise in 2017, the team has gone 43-71-1 and has yet to win a season.

Allen went on an expletive-filled rant following a 14-7 loss to the New York Giants in October 2023, as the Commanders fell to 4-13.

With Newton out indefinitely, the frenzied trade rumours may calm slightly.

Newton’s selection earned praise from draft experts.
Mock drafts predicted Newton as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Commanders received accolades for placing him at the top of the second round.

According to OurLads.com’s most recent depth chart, Newton is Allen’s backup, with Daron Payne starting at the opposite defensive lineman position.

Newton, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 304 pounds, led Illinois with 7.5 sacks in 2023 and led the FBS with four blocked kicks.

Trevor Sikkema of PFF rated the Commanders a “A” for their 2024 class, with much of praise for Newton.

“Tremendous value selection at the top of the second round,” wrote Sikkema. “Newton is the 11th-ranked player overall on the PFF big board and was tremendously productive throughout his college years. Since PFF began recording college in 2014, only three Power Five interior defensive lineman have recorded 100 or more pressures over a two-year period: Newton, his new teammate Jonathan Allen, and DeForest Buckner.