Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive tackle Daron Payne are among the players ruled out for the Washington Commanders on Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Less than 24 hours before kickoff, the Washington Commanders have clarity at a number of positions after the team released its final injury report and made the quarterback spot official on Wednesday.
After head coach Dan Quinn announced Josh Johnson would draw his first start of the season when Washington hosts the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, the team announced both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota will be inactive on Christmas Day. Quinn previously noted Johnson will start with Jeff Driskel as the backup and Sam Hartman, who was also officially elevated to the 53 man roster on Wednesday, filling in as the emergency third quarterback.
"As we got through the week, Josh Johnson will start, Jeff Driskel will be the backup and we're also signing Sam Hartman to the 53 [man roster]. He will be emergency third [quarterback]," Quinn announced during Wednesday's press conference.
Head coach Dan Quinn also noted that linebacker Nick Bellore, defensive tackle Daron Payne and left tackle Laremy Tunsil will be inactive with all three joining the two quarterbacks on the inactive list. Brandon Coleman. is expected to start in Tunsil's absence while Andrew Wylie and Nick Allegretti taking reps at guard with Sam Cosmi sidelined for the final two games after being placed on injured reserve earlier this week.
Washington announced that both wide receiver Jaylin Lane and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman would also miss the final two games of the regular season after being placed on injured reserve.
While Goldman's absence gives former second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton a chance to step up in an expanded role as one of a handful of players looking to end the season on a high note ahead of a pivotal offseason, the absence of Lane poses somewhat of a problem for Washington over the final two games.
Fresh off being named second alternate for the NFC in the Pro Bowl as a returner, Washington looked to mitigate the hole by signing former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver and returner Jamal Agnew off the practice squad, two days after he was waived by Atlanta. One day after announcing his signing, the team announced it waived Agnew following a failed physical. With Agnew's arrival not materializing and Lane absent, cornerback Mike Sainristil will look to fill the void as the returner after being listed as the backup on the depth chart.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys will be without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown on Thursday, one of five players ruled out after not practicing this week due to a concussion. Overshown joins cornerback Josh Butler, offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, running back Phil Mafah and defensive end Payton Turner among the inactives on Thursday.
The Cowboys also ruled guard Tyler Booker, cornerback Caelen Carson, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and wide receiver Ryan Flournoy as questionable ahead of kickoff.
Dallas enters kickoff as a seven point favorite, per DraftKings, while the two teams met earlier in the season with Washington falling, 44-22, in a game quarterback Jayden Daniels left early due to injury. Kickoff is set for 1 PM on Thursday.