Commanders DT Daron Payne could miss rest of the season after suffering 'significant foot injury'

A team interested in acquiring Payne in free agency may give him the benefit of the doubt based on his historical reliability, though. To his credit, the 29-year-old has never experienced a prolonged absence in his NFL career. He missed one game with an ankle injury in his sophomore campaign but had perfect attendance otherwise, up until he was ejected and suspended for a game for an altercation with Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown last year. An interested franchise also might make a strong one-year offer, in effort to get Payne in the building with the ability to work towards an extension, should he return to form quickly.

If he does return return to form, whatever team signs Payne will be securing a strong run defender with disruptive pass rush abilities, when he’s in the right situation. Payne was having a resurgent year with the Commanders, according to Pro Football Focus standards. PFF had graded Payne, up to this point of the season, as the 35th-best interior defender out of 128 players graded at the position. It’s the best placement the site has given him since ranking him 38th in 2020, and a return to pass rushing success.

His last successful campaign saw him reach career highs in sacks (11.5), tackles for loss (18), and quarterback hits (20). It was his first time reaching double-digit sacks and tackles for loss and only the second time he had affected the quarterback more than 10 times. His sack numbers returned to pedestrian levels the next year and, over the following two seasons, his tackle for loss and quarterback hit numbers followed. After only logging one sack and eight QB hits last year, his one sack and five hits in six games proved he was on track for big numbers.

Any further return to excellence will be delayed until he can return to the field. The Commanders haven’t called the injury season-ending yet, but additional testing may soon reveal that fate. Payne’s absence adds to the existing injuries on the defensive line of Javon Kinlaw and Jer’Zhan Newton. The Commanders impressive depth on the defensive front will be tested as Tim Settle, Charles Omenihu, Shy Tuttle and Deatrich Wise Jr. attempt to hold down the fort.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.