Washington's decimated defensive line gets four back from COVID/Reserve list

A day after Washington's Week 15 game against the Philadelphia Eagles was pushed back two days due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the team finally got some good news. Four defensive linemen, including Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat, were activated from the COVID/Reserve list Saturday and zero players on the team tested positive, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Washington is one of three teams -- along with the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams -- that placed more than 20 players on the COVID/Reserve list in the last week. Week 15 games for all three teams were delayed by two days each, the NFL announced Friday.

While Washington is still unsure who will start at quarterback Tuesday against the Eagles with Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen both still on the COVID/Reserve list, the defensive line got a much-needed boost. The team had eight defensive linemen on the list as of Friday night and is already without Chase Young for the remainder of the season after the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year suffered an ACL tear in November.

In addition to being activated from the COVID/Reserve list, Sweat was also cleared to return to practice for the first time since fracturing his jaw in October.

Washington ranks fifth best against the run with 93.6 yards allowed on the ground per game. The Eagles have the NFL's top rushing offense that averages 160 yards. The winner of the Tuesday meeting will be in second place in the NFC East.