Commanders activate CB Trey Amos from IR

Amos has not yet played in 2026, and appears to be truly questionable this week. The Commanders need all the help they can get on defense, but holding him out another week could be the smart move for his long-term health.

The Commanders placed Amos on injured reserve at the end of camp, which will require him to miss at least the first four games of the season. Quinn said Amos’ “speed and on-field work” have been encouraging as of late, but declined to comment on when the 2025 second-rounder could return. The Commanders’ secondary has struggled through the first two weeks of the season, allowing a league-high seven touchdown passes while also ranking 25th in yards per attempt allowed. We’ll have a better sense of when Amos could be in line to return once the team opens his return window.

Keim lists the team’s No. 2 need as “a cornerback with length.” Delane stands 6'/187. His arms measured 30" at the NFL Scouting Combine. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn spent the 2010, 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Seahawks under former head coach Pete Carroll, who eagerly drafted cornerbacks standing at least 6' with arms measuring at least 32". We have no way of knowing if Quinn values arm length like Carroll used to, but Delane is generating first-round buzz. The Commanders signed former Lions CB Amik Robertson in free agency. He is expected to man the slot. CBs Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil are currently expected to start on the perimeter. Drafting Delane in the first round could mean he is allowed to compete for a starting role on the outside.

Considering how little is left of the NFL season and Washington’s placement in the standings, this is likely a season-ender. Amos had a 58.8 PFF coverage grade in 511 snaps during his first 10 games of the season, but looked rough the last two weeks as he allowed 138 yards and a touchdown while allowing 8-of-8 completions in coverage. He’ll likely head to IR in the coming days.

Payne was flagged after a hard-fought 13-yard touchdown run made by Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Payne can be clearly seen punching Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on the left side of his facemask. Astonishingly, Commanders DT Javon Kinlaw was not ejected after striking a referee in the forehead, though he was penalized, after Payne was ejected. The Commanders also may have lost CB Trey Amos, who entered the game with a hip injury, and required two trainers’ assistance to leave the field after injuring his ankle on the play. Amos is currently questionable to return.

Facing the Lions without McLaurin and Daniels gives the Commanders long odds of pulling off the upset. Fortunately, they have a capable backup quarterback in Marcus Mariota, and lead rusher, RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (tooth) was medically cleared on Friday. The defense will have CB Trey Amos on hand. The rookie cornerback injured his hip last week against the Seahawks. He practiced fully on Friday.

Amos (6’1/195) worked his way up to the SEC spending three seasons with Louisiana, where he allowed a sub-40% completion rate in each campaign, before getting the call up to Alabama in 2023. He assumed a reserve role with the tide, starting just one of 14 games despite a respectable 76.9 PFF defensive grade. Amos transferred to Ole Miss and ran with his new opportunity, logging career highs with 841 snaps, 13 PBU, 3 interceptions and a 54.5 NFL passer rating allowed. The First Team All-SEC performer also posted a strong 81.3 run defense grade and produced an exceptional 28.6% forced incompletion rate. He ran an 88th% 40-yard dash with a solid 8.37 RAS, though his 4.36s shuttle (36th%) wasn’t great. Amos is pretty balanced in terms of his versatility on the field, having demonstrated effectiveness in both zone and man. He is rarely stressed downfield thanks to a smooth backpedal and is savvy on third downs, sitting on routes and not getting run off the sticks. If there’s a prevailing critique it probably stems from his tendency in zone to sag off receivers on in-breaking routes, preferring to read the quarterback. Amos flashed the tools to become a weekly starting cornerback and has one of the higher floors of this CB group.

Although Derek Carr’s hefty contract is somewhat prohibitive, drafting a promising quarterback prospect is perhaps the most prudent option for Moore, who undoubtedly plans to craft his offense around a talented youngster at some point. Dart has generated some first-round buzz, it would be shocking if the Saints took him No. 9 overall. Underhill notes that the Saints will likely take a look at CB Trey Amos on Friday as well.

Amos plays both cornerback and quarterback for his high school and led them to a state finals appearance. He also won the high school state championship for long jump. The uber-athletic player will likely player cornerback at the next level. He’s the 92nd-ranked athlete in the 2020 recruiting cycle and 50th-ranked prospect from the state of Louisiana.