Newton (pec) to miss significant time, has surgery

When asked for comment, Commanders coach Dan Quinn said, “anytime you’re seeing a specialist, of course, there is reason for concern.” Both starting edge rushers, OLB Odafe Oweh (calf) and OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (knee), and backup LB Jordan Magee (shoulder) are also sidelined by recent injuries. The Commanders’ defensive front is tasked with corralling the Eagles’ rushing attack in three and a half weeks.

Newton didn’t log much work this offseason after it was revealed the rookie second-rounder underwent surgery in May to fix a Jones fracture on his left foot. Newton had the same injury on his right foot months before that. Now healthy, Quinn said Newton will soon join team drills, but they’re holding off on that for the time being. Newton is expected to provide an immediate boost to a defense that ranked amongst the worst in league history last season. Newton totaled 7.5 sacks and 8.5 TFLs in 12 games at Illinois last season and was named as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Newton suffered a partial Jones fracture in college and successfully underwent surgery to repair the injury in May. He can be removed from the NFI list at any time during training camp and the preseason but must remain sidelined for at least four games if he remains on the list when the regular season officially begins.

Newton needed surgery for a Jones fracture after needing surgery on his opposite foot earlier this year. Once projected as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Newton fell to the No. 36 pick with teams exercising some concerns on his feet. He was scooped up by Washington, who hope to add him to a healthy defensive line. Schultz reports the Commanders are optimistic that Newton will make a full recovery before the regular season.

The No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft underwent surgery to repair a partial Jones fracture in his foot earlier this year and now needs the same surgery on the opposite foot. The surgery is scheduled for next week and head coach Dan Quinn declined to speculate on his return timeline following the procedure. The standard recovery time for a Jones fracture with surgical intervention is three to four months, which should place the second-round rookie in line to return to football activities prior to the start of the 2024 season, assuming a clean rehabilitation.

Newton underwent surgery in January for the Jones fracture, an injury that he said he sustained during the middle part of the season. While the surgery kept him from working out at the NFL Scouting Combine and at Illinois’ pro day, it didn’t stop the Commanders from taking him with the No. 36 pick when he slipped outside of the first round. Now considered one of the potential steals of the 2024 NFL Draft, Newton will have a chance to bolster a defensive line anchored by Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. His injury is not considered to be a major issue at this time, which suggests he should be ready to play come training camp.

A former three-star recruit who was considered the 42nd defensive tackle prospect in the country, Newton saw game action in all eight games as a true freshman in 2020. He would increase his TFL count from 3.5 as a redshirt freshman in 2021 to 14.0 the following year, in addition to recording 50+ tackles in each of his last three campaigns. In his final season, Newton created 43 pressures (4th in FBS) and 32 stops (3rd in P5) to go with a 15% win pass rush win rate (7th in P5) while being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The two-time All-American led the Illini with an 11.4% pressure rate, but his 20% missed tackle rate and 46th percentile tackle grade shows there is still room for improvement for the dominant DT. A true grinder, Newton played 73 more regular season snaps in 2023 than any other Power Five DT but did not perform any testing at the Combine due to injury, though it’s notable that he measured in at a sawed-off 6’016/304. The versatile three tech can line up over tackle and set the edge when called upon, thanks to his rare athleticism. He uses his natural lower leverage position to get underneath blockers’ pads and post like a steel beam against the run. Newton profiles as an undersized, slashing gap-shooter who could have an impact similar to former Cincinnati Bengals DT Geno Atkins.