Washington Commanders defensive end Efe Obada underwent surgery Sunday night on multiple leg fractures after being carted off in the 31-19 loss to the New York Giants at home just hours before, per reports Monday from The Athletic.
Obada had just come off of injured reserve prior to Week 6's win over the Atlanta Falcons, where he made his season debut. He's played in five games this season, but his year is now over. The Commanders placed him on season-ending IR Monday, which coach Ron Rivera clarified to the media was not a four-game stint.
Rivera had said prior to Obada's season debut against Atlanta that the Commanders were "really pleased" with how he looked.
“He's progressing very nicely," Rivera said after practice on Wednesday. "He's been around, he’s been in the meetings, he’s been out watching the walkthroughs, so his mental take of it is very good. Once they cleared him to start conditioning, he's been doing a great job at that. He really has. So, he was out at practice today, moved around very, very well. We're really pleased.”
Obada began his NFL career thanks to a coach's recommendation to the Dallas Cowboys. Obada signed with the Cowboys and participated in their 2015 rookie mini-camp, but was eventually waived.
He then made short offseason stops with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons before finding a home with the Carolina Panthers in 2018. Obada played his first game in Week 3 of that season and had a memorable debut, recording an interception and a sack en route to being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Obada played 26 total games with the Panthers before signing with the Buffalo Bills for the 2021 season. He spent just one season in Western New York, posting 3.5 sacks before signing with Washington prior to the 2022 season.
The Commanders will take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday for a Thanksgiving matchup.
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