The defensive tackle broke his foot in practice Friday, two days before Washington faces the Eagles.
Daron Payne's season is over. The Commanders defensive tackle suffered a Jones fracture in his foot during practice Friday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, and the injury will keep him sidelined for the rest of the year.
The timing stings in more ways than one. Payne had been floated as a potential trade deadline target for other teams looking to bolster their defensive line, but that speculation is now moot. A player can't be dealt while recovering from a season-ending fracture, and Washington loses a key interior piece just as it heads into a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, coming two days after the injury occurred.
For the Commanders, this is a significant blow to their defensive front heading into a stretch of the schedule that includes a divisional matchup. Payne has been a steady presence on the interior line, and his absence leaves Washington needing other players to step up at defensive tackle for the remainder of the season.
No further details on recovery timeline or surgery were immediately available.