Commanders Activate Jer'Zhan Newton From IR

Jer’Zhan Newton stacked three full practices this week, and on Saturday the Washington Commanders made it official. The team activated the defensive tackle, also known as Johnny Newton, from injured reserve to the 53-man roster, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. He had been listed as questionable while recovering from a torn pectoral muscle.

The timing matters. Washington lost Daron Payne to what is believed to be a season-ending foot injury last week, and Javon Kinlaw is also on IR. Newton has not played a game this season, and his first one comes against a Rams team getting Myles Garrett back.

What Newton Brings

Washington took Newton in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Illinois. As a rookie he started 11 games with 44 tackles, two sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. His role shrank in 2025, when he started only two of 17 games, but he posted a career-high five sacks as a pass rusher.

That pass-rush version is what the Commanders need now. With Payne gone, the interior rotation is short, and Shy Tuttle was limited all week with a shoulder injury before getting no game designation.

Newton logged full sessions Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after being designated to return, so the activation was the last box to check.

A Thin Week for Washington

The Commanders are coming off a win over Philadelphia that kept them in a muddled NFC East. They ruled out receivers Treylon Burks (foot) and Dyami Brown (calf), and Terry McLaurin is already out for the season. Jayden Daniels practiced fully all week, and Sam Cosmi was a full participant Friday.

Los Angeles is 4-4 and has its own holes. Jaylen Watson is on IR, and Trent McDuffie and Kam Curl are questionable in the Rams secondary.

Rams at Commanders Sunday

Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET at Northwest Stadium in Landover. Newton may not play a full load right away, but every healthy interior body counts against Matthew Stafford, who practiced fully all week, and a Rams offense that ranks top five in yards.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean Newton to record at least one tackle against the Rams. He practiced fully all week and joins an interior with Payne and Kinlaw both on IR, so the snaps are there. If Washington keeps him on a light rotation in the first half, drop the Newton play and stick with the Rams team sacks lean from the Garrett side of this game.