Commanders suffer two huge losses before they even play a snap against the Cowboys and it could contribute to an 0-2 start
The latest Commanders injury news has already ruled out two key starters as the team heads into a very important matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
You never want to start the season 0-2, especially against division rivals, and the latest Washington Commanders injury news is going to make it harder to avoid that when Dan Quinn and Co. kick off Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Per team reporter Zach Selby, the Commanders ruled out tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (hamstring) and linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) ahead of Sunday’s game and it’s a two-fold hit when you break it down.
Both concerns revolve around the Cowboys offense. For starters, Luvu is one of the best defenders on the team and is used in a variety of ways that can throw off opposing offenses. He’ll certainly be missed against one of the most explosive offenses in the league in Dak Prescott and Co.
Then, on the other side of spectrum, having a weapon like Okonkwo on the field can help keep pace with the Cowboys offense if it were to start putting large amounts of points on the board. The Commanders’ passing attack looked pretty good against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, but it’s clear the team needs all hands on deck as it heads into this week’s crucial showdown.
The Okonkwo injury stings the most, though, as the rest of the tight ends on the Commanders roster are nowhere near capable of matching his athleticism, speed, and post-catch ability. I mean, we saw first-hand with John Bates on the two-point attempt against the Eagles that would’ve tied the game if converted. While, yes, it was a bad call to begin with, it’s clear Bates doesn’t have the ability to “wiggle out” of the predicament like Okonkwo might have been able to.
On the flip side, the Commanders still have Sonny Styles and Leo Chenal, who are two very capable linebackers in their own right. However, the depth behind them is very shaky because Luvu isn’t the only linebacker who will miss this game – reserve linebacker Jordan Magee was recently placed on short-term IR and will miss the next four matchups, at minimum.
It’s just more tough Commanders injury news, as the team simply hasn’t caught a break dating all the way back to the 2025 season where injuries played a huge role in the team’s disappointing 5-12 finish.
We’ll see if they’re able to overcome it on Sunday against the Cowboys.
