Washington Commanders rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton has yet to make his NFL debut. There was some excitement last month when the Commanders activated Newton from the NFI (non-football injury) list before the first training camp practice.
Newton has participated in practice but has yet to suit up for one of Washington’s two preseason games. Most assumed it was due to the foot injury he most recently had surgery on.
It’s not. According to head coach Dan Quinn, the No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft is dealing with a different injury.
“So, he has a, dealing with like a soft tissue injury on his foot, not related to his surgery,” Quinn said. “And so he’s off to the side doing work, and we’re fortunate that the, I’m going to call it a preseason bye [week] is here because we’re going to try to ramp him up towards the end of this week and hopefully into the practice for next week. So, he’s hit all the marks that we’re wanting him to, but we’re just trying to make sure there are no setbacks. He worked so hard, so I want to make sure like we just don’t miss one thing of it.”
That’s encouraging because Washington has a plan for Newton. The Commanders do not need Newton for Week 1. Sure, they hope he’s back, but they can afford to take their time with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in the starting lineup.
Should there be concern with Newton? Since arriving in April, he has yet to be fully healthy. Washington fans are accustomed to draft picks coming to town, being told they would be fine, and missing either part or all of the rookie season. That may not be the case with Newton, but it’s fair to have some level of concern.
The goal for Newton remains the same: Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As of now, that’s still in play.