Cruel déjà vu hits Commanders breakout star as camp nightmare strikes again

Football is a cruel business sometimes. Opportunities can get taken away as quickly as they arrive through no fault of the player. And for one potential Washington Commanders breakout star, history could be repeating itself this summer.

There was a lot to like about Jordan Magee's impact during his initial rookie transition last year. The ferocious linebacker looked set for a key rotational role after impressing, but a knee injury that required surgery dented his progress considerably.

Magee came back midway through the season, but the Commanders brought him along gradually. He was a special teams asset and nothing more. Although disappointing, Washington's staff was priming him for a potentially bigger role this time around.

Jordan Magee is dealing with another injury setback after missing Commanders joint practice

Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. highlighted his desire to put more responsibilities on Magee's shoulders in three-linebacker sets alongside Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. This was reflected in his heavy involvement with the first-string defense over training camp, where athletic second-level presence flashed enormous promise and didn't look out of place whatsoever.

And now, another stumbling block has emerged.

The former Temple standout is dealing with an undisclosed injury that's kept him out in recent days. Nothing has been revealed by the Commanders, but it was serious enough to ensure he couldn't make the trip for joint practice and a preseason game with the New England Patriots. 

Washington's staff is right to err on the side of caution at this juncture. Time is on their side with a few weeks remaining until Week 1 against the New York Giants. But there aren't many players who need live-fire preseason reps to hone their craft more than Magee.

Missing so much time last season makes him an unknown quantity on the defensive rotation. Magee needs to build confidence in a typical game-day setting, especially considering the high expectations the Commanders must meet in 2025. The longer he's out, the less likely his involvement becomes.

This is also giving others a chance to shine. The Commanders have experimented with Tyler Owens at the second level. Rookie sixth-rounder Kain Medrano and Dominique Hampton will also see this as an opportunity, albeit in unfortunate circumstances.

Hopefully, this is nothing more than a precautionary measure. Magee wasn't the only one who stayed home, and the Commanders don't need to provide any additional information right now. But the sooner he gets back into the mix, the better.

And if anyone deserves a little bit of luck after how things unfolded last summer, it's Magee.

More Commanders news and analysis