With cornerback Jonathan Jones inactive, the Washington Commanders will have only three active cornerbacks against the New York Giants on Sunday
The Commanders defense proved to be arguably one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL this season with Washington entering the final month of the 2025 regular season ranked in the bottom five in virtually every major defensive category.
The midseason coaching adjustment with head coach Dan Quinn taking over as the play caller on defense, demoting defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in the process, did not prove to make much of a difference either given the Commanders have lost three straight including a 31-0 loss vs. Minnesota.
While Washington now shifts its attention to its first matchup against rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart this season, they will now do so with limited depth after one of the team's four cornerbacks was ruled inactive for Sunday following Friday's injury report.
Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones will not play on Sunday due to a rib injury that held him out of practice all week. The unit will now turn to a pair of young pieces out of the Big Ten in Mike Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene with Antonio Hamilton Sr. rounding out the room.
Update: Commanders elevated Darius Rush from the practice squad on Saturday evening, marking four healthy cornerbacks
The New York Giants enter Sunday ranked in the middle of the pack across the league in passing offense, though Wandale Robinson stepping up as of late with both Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo both out with season-ending injuries, but how Washington's defense can adjust will tell the tale to start the divisional stretch.
Washington brought in five players for workouts on Tuesday before signing cornerback Kevon Seymour to the practice squad, giving the unit a potential piece down the line.
Jones was one of three officially ruled out alongside quarterback Jayden Daniels, who head coach Dan Quinn noted on Wednesday would be inactive this week. Defensive end Drake Jackson was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday, though joins Daniels and Jones among the inactives.
Meanwhile, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and wide receiver Deebo Samuel are both ruled questionable ahead of Sunday. Rodriguez was limited the last two days after stepping up as the leader of the running back room over the last six weeks, potentially elevating Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt into elevated roles while Chase Edmonds, who was added to the active roster after Zach Ertz's season-ending injury, rounds out the room.
Samuel was one of three wide receivers not spotted on Friday alongside Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown, though head coach Dan Quinn noted there's no concern around McLaurin.
"[McLaurin] had a planned day off just on the space where they had to get recovery work knowing that they went big for Wednesday and Thursday. That was planned ahead. Then Deebo was out with an illness,” Quinn said with Brown also on a rest day.
Washington and New York both enter Sunday's rematch in line for a top-six selection in the 2026 NFL Draft as the Giants look to avenge a 21-6 loss to open the 2025 season.
"You're setting a foundation," quarterback Marcus Mariota said this week. "We talked about it in the team room and amongst the team, it's setting a culture. We talk about a culture, we talk about the brotherhood , it's really these moments that tell you who you are."