ASHBURN, Va. — Daron Payne’s season is over. The Washington Commanders defensive tackle suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot late in Friday’s light practice, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.
The injury happened during a team drill. A team source described it as a fluke, and no one stepped on Payne’s foot, according to the ESPN report.
Payne was first added to Washington’s injury report as questionable for Sunday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The team ruled him out hours later.
He will be placed on injured reserve, Reuters reported. A typical recovery from a Jones fracture can take up to four months, according to medical experts cited in the ESPN report.
The timing closes off another option for Washington. Payne, 29, is in the final season of his four-year, $90 million contract and had been rumored as a possible trade piece before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Payne is Washington’s longest-tenured position player. Washington drafted Payne 13th overall in 2018. From 2020 through 2024 he started every game, and he started the first six this season too. He sat out just two games in 2025.
His best year came in 2022. Payne made the Pro Bowl that season and finished with 11.5 sacks, a career high. Through six starts this season, he has 14 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. Over 136 career games, he has piled up 446 tackles and 38 sacks, with eight forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
At 1-4-1, Washington goes into Sunday night’s home game against Philadelphia (2-5) thin up front. Washington will also be without Javon Kinlaw, who is out Sunday with a knee injury.
Jer’Zhan Newton could help fill the gap. A preseason game on Aug. 14 left Newton, a second-round pick in 2024, with a torn pectoral muscle. He practiced this week, and Washington lists him as questionable for Sunday. Washington also has veteran depth at the spot in Charles Omenihu and Deatrich Wise Jr.
Payne turns 30 in May. With his contract running out, the injury leaves his future in Washington in question.
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