Commanders announce Week 9 inactives vs. Rams

It’s an upgrade from an estimated DNP on Monday. Dan Quinn has previously said that he’s optimistic Burks will play, but it’s likely that he’ll hit the questionable line tomorrow barring a full practice.

Hours after head coach Dan Quinn said he was “optimistic” that Burks would play in Week 10 against the Giants, the Commanders listed him as an estimated DNP for Monday. While they didn’t formally practice, the fact that the team is saying he wouldn’t have gotten on the field today isn’t an encouraging sign for a player who missed all of last week’s practices as well. The good news is there are still more practices to go, meaning Burks could still be upgraded before Thursday night’s game. We’ll see if his status changes on Tuesday when the Commanders take the practice field for the first time on the short week.

Burks sat out in Sunday’s loss to the Rams due to a foot injury that kept him off the practice field all week. Quinn’s optimism suggests he will at least be listed as limited on Monday’s estimated practice report and will get on the field in some capacity on Tuesday and Wednesday. Burks has been a solid downfield threat for the Commanders this year, catching 12 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Even if he is active, fantasy managers can avoid him outside of deeper leagues, where he could be a viable desperation play as a WR4. In addition to Burks, Quinn also said he was hopeful CB Amik Robertson (ankle) would be ready to play on Thursday against the Giants.

The Commanders’ wide receiver corps continues to lose players. Burks and Dyami Brown (calf) will both be sidelined this weekend, leaving Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams and Chig Okonkwo to operate as the top pass catchers.

The Commanders’ thin wide receiver corps could get thinner. Burks, the team’s top downfield receiver, is on the wrong side of questionable for this week’s game against the Rams. He does not need to be rostered in 12-team formats.

Burks was limited-DNP-limited due to the foot injury last week, but played through it for five targets in the Commanders’ Week 8 win over the Eagles. He starts out this week as a DNP as the Commanders manage his injury. Given he already played a game with the injury, Burks is still likely to play in Week 9, though he will need to get a practice in later this week to feel better about his chances of playing against the Rams.

A 53-yard reception toward the end of the third quarter did the bulk of the damage for Burks, who continues to give the Commanders their best deep option in the absence of Terry McLaurin. That doesn’t necessarily mean he carries weekly fantasy value considering the poor state of a Washington offense that got its first win in a Jayden Daniels start since 5 October of 2025. Burks is likely best left on the waiver wire ahead of a Week 9 meeting with the Rams.

The team’s Week 7 bye apparently afforded Burks enough time to overcome the foot injury sustained late in the fourth quarter of Washington’s Week 6 loss, confirming previous reports that indicated Burks would be active after entering the weekend listed as questionable. Expect Burks to operate as a starter alongside veteran Stefon Diggs and rookie Antonio Williams, the latter two of whom carry greater upside against the inside-funnel Philadelphia defense. Inactive for the Commanders are QB Athan Kaliakmanis, CB Fabian Moreau, CB Isaac Yiadom, G Tanoa Togiai, DT Daron Payne, and DT Javon Kinlaw.

Burks was limited in Friday’s practice before being listed as questionable. With Terry McLaurin done for the year, Burks is one of several role players for the Commanders who will be asked to step up in the back half of 2026. Burks has nine catches for 152 yards and two scores in five appearances this year.

The rare limited-DNP-limited injury report shows up here after Burks suffered a late foot injury in Week 6’s Monday night football. Burks probably is best considered truly questionable at this point. If he’s absent, it could help Antonio Williams get into the 80 percent snap range.