Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne suffered a season-ending Jones fracture during a light practice on Friday, according to a team source. The injury occurred late in a team drill and was described as a fluke accident, not caused by contact. Payne, the Commanders' longest-tenured position player, will be placed on injured reserve.
He is in the final year of his contract and turns 30 in May, with recovery expected to take up to four months. The Commanders (1-4-1) face the Eagles (2-5) on Sunday night without starting end Javon Kinlaw, who is out with a knee injury. Veterans Charles Omenihu and Deatrich Wise Jr. provide depth, while second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton returned to practice this week and is listed as questionable.
Payne started every game from 2020 to 2024 and the first six games this season, missing only two in 2025. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 with a career-best 11 sacks and was averaging 2.8 pass rush wins per game this season. Washington drafted Payne in the first round of the 2018 draft and signed him to a four-year extension in March 2023.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing