The Commanders are up 10-0 over the Panthers in the first quarter, but no one in Washington is feeling too happy right now.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels went to the locker room after the team’s first offensive possession of the game. Evan Washburn of CBS reported that Daniels will be having X-rays after injuring his rib and his return is called questionable.
Marcus Mariota is now in the game for the Commanders.
Daniels had a 46-yard run to set up an Austin Seibert field goal at the end of the Commanders’ first drive, but took a hit at the end of that run that may have led to the injury. Dante Fowler returned an interception to put the Commanders up 7-0, so they now lead 10-0 late in the opening quarter.
The Panthers’ opening drive in Washington looked like it would end in points as they moved closer to the Commanders’ end zone, but the first score of the game wound up belonging to the home team.
Dante Fowler picked off a screen pass by Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown. The Commanders now lead 7-0 with less than four minutes off the clock in the first quarter.
It’s the first interception of Fowler’s career and his third career touchdown.
The Panthers had picked up 61 yards before Fowler’s big play and they’ll need to recover that momentum after the bad ending to the opening possession.
Running back Brian Robinson is back in the Commanders lineup.
Robinson missed last week’s loss to the Ravens with a knee injury and he was listed as questionable for this Sunday’s game against the Panthers, but he avoided the inactive list on Sunday afternoon.
The Panthers will also have a key offensive piece. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is active after being listed as questionable with rib, hamstring, and ankle injuries.
While Johnson is good to go, the Panthers have plenty of injury issues. Linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, right tackle Taylor Moton, linebacker Josey Jewell, tight end Tommy Tremble, linebacker Jon Rhattigan, defensive end A’Shawn Robinson, and linebacker Claudin Cherelus are all out with injuries.
Quarterback Jeff Driskel, defensive end Dorance Armstrong, safety Tyler Owens, linebacker Dominique Hampton, and guard Chris Paul are inactive for the Commanders.
Cornerback Dane Jackson is set to make his Panthers debut.
Jackson was activated from injured reserve as part of a series of moves the Panthers announced on Saturday afternoon. Jackson, who signed with the team as a free agent, has been sidelined by a hamstring injury he suffered over the summer.
The Panthers also signed defensive tackle T.J. Smith to the active roster from the practice squad. Smith has played in seven games over the course of his career.
Cornerback Troy Hill was released and center Andrew Raym was waived to make room for the two new members of the 53-man roster.
The Panthers elevated edge rusher Shaq Lawson and linebacker Shaq Quarterman from the practice squad to round out the day’s moves. They’ll revert back after Sunday’s game against the Commanders.
Head coach Dan Quinn said running back Brian Robinson has been “trending up” when it comes to his potential availability for Sunday’s matchup against the Panthers.
But there’s still a chance Robinson won’t be able to play.
Robinson (knee) is officially questionable for Week 7. He was limited in all three days of practice.
Robinson missed last week’s loss to the Ravens. He’s rushed for 325 yards with five touchdowns and caught eight passes for 68 yards so far this season.
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell (knee) and linebacker Jordan Magee (knee) are both questionable. Magee is returning from injured reserve and was a full participant in practice all week.
Defensive end Dorance Armstrong (rib) and safety Tyler Owens (shin) have both been ruled out.
Guard Nick Allegretti (ankle), center Tyler Biadasz (thumb), receiver Noah Brown (groin), safety Percy Butler (groin), cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), linebacker Frankie Luvu (toe), safety Quan Martin (shoulder), and defensive tackle Daron Payne (knee) are all of the injury report and are expected to play.
