The Commanders have already ruled wide receiver Terry McLaurin out for Week 11, but he is taking a step back toward the lineup.
Head coach Dan Quinn said that McLaurin will begin doing on-field rehab work in Madrid this week. McLaurin has missed six games with a quad injury already this season, including the last two contests.
The Commanders have a bye week, so McLaurin could be back for their next game in Week 13 if all goes well.
Quinn also said that the team expects running back Chris Rodriguez to play against the Dolphins after injuring his shoulder last week. Safety Will Harris will also return to practice and open his 21-day return window from injured reserve.
The Dolphins plan to have edge rusher Chop Robinson available for Sunday’s game against the Commanders in Madrid.
Robinson did not play against the Bills last weekend because of a concussion, but he made the trip with the team to Spain this week and head coach Mike McDaniel updated his condition at a Wednesday press conference. McDaniel said “all things point toward a full clearance” for Robinson on Wednesday, who has eight tackles and a sack so far this season.
McDaniel said that center Aaron Brewer and cornerback Rasul Douglas will sit out of practice on Wednesday. He added that he feels positive about the chances of both players being able to play on Sunday.
The Dolphins will also open the 21-day practice window for tackle Austin Jackson. Jackson has been out since Week 1 with a toe injury and can be activated at any point in the next three weeks.
Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne will miss the team’s Week 11 game against the Dolphins in Madrid.
Payne was suspended one game for punching Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown during the Commanders’ 44-22 loss on Sunday. Payne, who was ejected from the game, appealed the suspension and the NFL announced that it was upheld by hearing officer Ramon Foster.
Payne will not travel with the team to Spain as a result of the ruling. He will lose a game check as a result of the suspension and that comes out to more than $1 million given Payne’s $19.56 million salary for the 2025 season.
Javon Kinlaw, Jer’Zhan Newton, Eddie Goldman, and Sheldon Day are the other defensive tackles on Washington’s 53-man roster.
An unexpected win over the Buffalo Bills didn’t stop the pink slips.
A day after the Dolphins drubbed the Bills, 30-13, the team parted ways with co-directors of player personnel Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt, per NFL Media.
Both men remain listed on the team’s official website.
Hunt has worked for the Dolphins since 1994. Engroff has been employed by the Dolphins since 1999.
Ten days ago, the Dolphins fired G.M. Chris Grier, an employee of the franchise since 2000. Champ Kelly is the interim General Manager.
Coach Mike McDaniel reportedly will finish the season. With more games like Sunday’s, he could be sticking around for 2026, in partnership with a new G.M.
The rain in Spain may or may not fall on Daron Payne.
The Commanders defensive tackle will appeal his one-game suspension for punching Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, via John Keim of ESPN.com. With the Commanders playing in Madrid on Sunday, he won’t be able to make the trip unless he prevails.
It’s been a mixed bag this year for suspended players. Lions safety Brian Branch’s one-game suspension for hitting Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after a Week 5 game was upheld. The one-game suspension imposed on Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw for accosting referee Brad Allen after a Week 7 win over the Giants also was upheld. More recently, the one-game suspension of Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu for his third hip-drop tackle of the season was modified to a $100,000 fine.
The season began with the league suspending Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter one game with pay for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the first offensive snap of the game. Carter had been ejected. (Carter did not appeal.)
Payne was ejected, too. His infraction came with nine minutes left in the second quarter. Enough time apparently had elapsed to couple the ejection with an unpaid suspension.
The stakes for Payne are much higher than a paid trip to Spain. He’ll lose $1.087 million, based on his salary of $19.56 million for 2025.
The appeals are heard by one of three hearing officers who are jointly hired and paid by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Sooner than later, Payne and the Commanders will find out whether he’ll be making the trek to Europe for a Week 11 game against the Dolphins.
