After over three weeks of training camp, injuries are piling up across the NFL. Fortunately for the Washington Commanders, none of those injuries are serious. Washington’s only serious occurred during OTAs when promising young tight end Armani Rogers was lost for the season with an Achilles injury.
Since camp started last month, outside of some nagging injuries, the Commanders have remained healthy. Washington heads into its Week 2 preseason game against the Ravens on Monday with several players on the injury list.
Head coach Ron Rivera spoke to the media after Saturday’s practice and gave an update on the status of those players ahead of Monday night.
“They’re just guys that got a couple of nicks, and we’re just trying to be careful,” Rivera said. “Again, the key to it, more so than anything else, is getting to Week 1 of the regular season with our guys.”
Tight end Logan Thomas has been on the shelf for two weeks with a calf injury. Rivera has described the injury as nothing serious but more of a case where the Commanders are playing it safe with a 32-year-old starter.
Rivera’s latest update on Thomas was positive.
“The biggest thing with Logan’s going to be more about conditioning than anything else,” he said. “He’s been doing what he can as far as trying to keep himself conditioned. He’s been working in the weight room with the strength conditioning guys as well. He’s sharp. He’s already up to speed on what we’re doing offensively.”
Defensive tackle and team captain Jonathan Allen is dealing with plantar fasciitis. “He’s just messing with plantar fasciitis, nothing serious right there,” Rivera said of Allen.
Right tackle Andrew Wylie was kicked in the calf during practice, and Washington is just being cautious with him. Defensive end Chase Young suffered a stinger in last week’s preseason opener and has been going through individual drills but isn’t yet cleared for contact.
Defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis injured his calf on the same play that Young suffered the stinger last week. He has yet to return to practice.
Cornerback Danny Johnson, who injured his shoulder when Ravens tight end Mark Andrews slammed him to the ground last week, was at practice Saturday but did not participate.
So, while the Commanders have a few guys on the shelf at the moment, everyone appears on track to be ready for Week 1.