ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne suffered a season-ending Jones fracture in practice Friday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The injury occurred late in a light practice, during a team drill, according to a team source. It was described as a fluke injury, not resulting from anyone stepping on his foot during a play.
Payne will be placed on injured reserve and calls his future in Washington into question. He's in the final year of his contract and turns 30 in May. A typical recovery for such an injury could take up to four months, according to medical experts. Payne is the Commanders' longest-tenured position player.
It's a tough blow for Washington (1-4-1) which plays the Eagles (2-5) Sunday night. The Commanders will already be without starting end Javon Kinlaw, out Sunday with a knee injury. They do have depth at the position with veterans Charles Omenihu and Deatrich Wise Jr. End Jer'Zhan Newton, a second-round pick in 2024, returned to practice this week after suffering a torn pectoral muscle during a preseason game on Aug. 14. He's listed as questionable for Sunday.
But Payne has been a longtime starter for Washington. In fact, he started every game between 2020 and '24 as well as the first six games this season. He missed only two games in 2025.
Payne made the Pro Bowl in 2022 when he recorded a career-best 11 sacks -- six more than his second best season. He had one sack this year but was averaging a career-best 2.8 pass rush wins per game according to Tru Media.
Washington drafted Payne in the first round of the 2018 draft and signed him to a four-year extension in March of 2023.