Commanders ‘concerned’ for DT Phidarian Mathis after being carted off

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said the team is “concerned” about rookie defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, who was carted off the field Sunday with a knee injury.

Mathis will undergo an MRI and X-Ray Monday, Rivera announced per ESPN’s John Keim.

Mathis suffered the injury on the Commanders’ second defensive series. According to the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier, Mathis was visibly emotional as doctors looked at his left knee.

Washington selected the 6-foot-4, 312-pound Alabama product in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. Mathis was to provide depth behind starters Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. The Commanders lost Tim Settle to the Buffalo Bills in free agency and released Matt Ioannidis after six seasons.

Mathis presumably also gave the team insurance moving forward in case Payne, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, didn’t re-sign with the team after this season.

For now, the focus is on the extent of Mathis’ injury and the timetable for his recovery.