Washington Commanders Get Good Injury News in the Secondary

With the page turned to week six, the Washington Commanders got good news in the secondary on the injury front ahead of Thursday's practice.

Head coach Dan Quinn noted that both cornerback Trey Amos and safety Nick Cross will have full practices this week, marking a welcomed development for an inconsistent and, at times, thin secondary. Amos has yet to appear in a game since week ten of his rookie season after suffering a fractured fibula in the midst of a breakout season, though also the start of what has proven to be a long road to recovery. Amos was also placed on the PUP list prior to training camp, then placed him on injured reserve ahead of the regular season opener after appearing for all of 30 minutes during practice in August.

Cross, meanwhile, suffered an internal injury in the week two loss where he was hospitalized following the game then discharged the following day. The Bowie, Md. native has been sidelined since then before proving himself as an impact piece under defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.

Quinn also revealed that running back Jeremy McNichols is expected to join Amos and Cross with a full week of practice, giving a potential shakeup to the running back rotation in week six. McNichols joined Amos on the reserve/injured list to open the regular season after suffering a quad injury during preseason, paving the way for rookie Kaytron Allen to make the initial 53-man roster before being waived last week then claimed by the Miami Dolphins the following day.

The team also announced that linebacker Jordan Magee, who was placed on injured reserve after week one, had his 21-day practice window opened on Thursday.

Yet the Commanders will be without a handful of pieces during Thursday's practice with wide receiver Stefon Diggs, safeties Tyler Owens and Percy Butler, running back Bill Croskey-Merritt and defensive end Charles Omenihu all sidelined.

Diggs joined wide receiver Terry McLaurin as inactive ahead of week five as both battled hamstring injuries, though McLaurin ultimately suited up with Diggs missing his first game of the season. Both Owens and Butler were also diagnosed with hamstring injuries, while Croskey-Merritt was limited with a groin injury ahead of week five despite ultimately playing. Omenihu was inactive in week five after not practicing in the days ahead due to a groin/ankle injury, adding a question when the free agent addition will be able to make his return to upgrade the front seven again.

The Commanders are set for the first of two games currently scheduled on Monday Night Football when they face the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 19. Kickoff is set for 8:15 PM ET on ESPN.

It marks the team's final game before the bye week with all eyes on whether the Commanders can secure the first win away from Northwest Stadium in 2026 while the team looks to climb itself out of the early hole after moving to 1-3-1 following the week five tie against the New York Giants.