From Washington Commanders On SI · · 1m 20s
Commanders Enter Week 1 at Full Strength
Dan Quinn cleared every limited player on Friday, so Washington opens against the Eagles with the game plan it actually built.
In brief
Dan Quinn cleared every limited player on Friday, so Washington opens against the Eagles with the game plan it actually built. All four injury questions resolved in Washington's favor, meaning the plan built for Jalen Hurts gets run by the players it was designed for. Originally reported by Washington Commanders On SI.
Friday cleared the board
Dan Quinn confirmed every one of Washington's significant injury questions is settled. Daron Payne, Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are all good to go Sunday.
Payne's name was the scare
Thursday's report listed Daron Payne as limited, which nobody saw coming for a defensive tackle the front is built around.
“which was not an update anyone was expecting”
Two edge rushers already limited
Oweh and Chaisson had been limited all week, so the pass rush was carrying three question marks into the final practice.
The plan for Hurts survives
With all three defensive front players available, Washington can attack Jalen Hurts using the group it spent weeks preparing, instead of reshuffling a position group on short notice.
The backfield stays intact
A sore groin kept Jacory Croskey-Merritt limited Wednesday and Thursday, but he is available. Offensive coordinator David Blough gets his Week 1 backfield as drawn up.
He earned the top spot
Croskey-Merritt worked all summer to be the number one back for the opener. Anyone else taking those first carries would have felt wrong.
“it would not have felt right with any other back out there”
The headline
All four injury questions resolved in Washington's favor, meaning the plan built for Jalen Hurts gets run by the players it was designed for.
