Fowler: Frankie Luvu groin injury not long-term

Both Luvu and Okonkwo were ruled out before the weekend. All other key players for the Commanders are active as they look to avoid going 0-2 in the division to start the season against the Cowboys.

Okonkwo did not log a practice this week after suffering a hamstring injury in the second half of last week’s game against the Eagles. His absence will leave the Commanders noticeably thin at tight end as far as pass-catchers are concerned, as the next man up on the depth chart is blocking TE John Bates, followed by third-year TE Ben Sinnott, who could see an uptick in the passing game after running 10 routes in Week 1. Fantasy managers should avoid this tight end room altogether despite a plus matchup against the Cowboys. In addition to Okonkwo, the Commanders have also ruled out LB Frankie Luvu (groin).

Brooks, jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA, reduced Luvu’s one-game suspension to a $100,000 fine. Luvu was initially suspended for “repeated violations of playing rules” after committing his third hip-drop tackle of the season in Week 9. The 29-year-old has now been fined for all three tackles, but will no longer serve a suspension. Luvu is eligible to play Week 10 against the Lions.

Luvu committed a hip-drop tackle in the first quarter of the team’s Week 9 contest against the Seahawks, his third such infraction of the season. He was fined for the previous two cases, once in Week 4 and again in Week 8, this time drawing the one-game suspension by the league’s disciplinary office. He will serve his suspension in Week 10 when the Commanders host the Lions before being eligible to return against the Dolphins in Week 11.

Luvu is one of the Commanders’ best all-around defenders, so his absence would be felt if he is unable to play against the Giants. Speedy running back Tyrone Tracy is currently making his way through the NFL’s concussion protocol and could be good to go, come Sunday. His day would be made far easier if Luvu is absent.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first with the story, as Luvu, a former UDFA of the Jets back in 2018, Luvu has spent the last three seasons with the Panthers and became an integral part of the defense in 2022. With 100-plus tackles to his name in each of the last two years, Luvu excelled at creating pressure up the middle last season, earning a PFF pass rush grade of 90.1 while also totaling 5.5 sacks. Luvu has totaled 12.5 sacks over the last two years, while also breaking up nine passes and forcing three forced fumbles. He’s an instant upgrade for the Commanders inside linebacker corps, as former first-rounder Jamin Davis has struggled to live up to his draft capital.

The 25-year-old was scheduled to be a free agent in March. Luvu made four starts and played 24% of defensive snaps in his first year with Carolina, forcing a fumble and recovering three while posting 1.5 sacks. The contract is a strong sign the Panthers are planning an expanded 2022 role for Luvu, a special teamer that received All-Pro votes and one of the team’s highest graded defenders at PFF last season.

A depth piece the past three years in New York, Luvu was called on for more than 250 snaps twice in three seasons. He has six career sacks off the edge. Still only 25 (in September), he’s a nice player to have near the end of the roster.

Injury turned Langi into an every-down player down the stretch last season before he suffered a neck injury of his own. His current health situation is unclear. The former UDFA turns 29 in September. He has made nine career starts.

He will miss at least the next three weeks. Luvu has played 180 snaps through six weeks, typically sticking in the 20-25 range. His loss further thins the Jets’ already nonexistent defensive depth.