Daron Payne Hits Commanders Injury Report Before Eagles Opener
Washington added Payne to Thursday's report ahead of Sunday's opener, while rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) stayed limited a second straight day.
Groin limits two days running; monitor Friday's practice status before locking him in.
- Payne newly added to Thursday's injury report
- Croskey-Merritt (groin) limited 2 straight days
- Croskey-Merritt: 140 PPR pts in 2025 (17 games)
- Kinlaw full participant with back injury
- Season opener Sunday vs Eagles
Washington has a wrinkle heading into Sunday's opener against the Eagles. Defensive tackle Daron Payne showed up on Thursday's injury report, a fresh addition that gives the Commanders something extra to sweat with kickoff days away. Interior line depth is thin enough already, and Payne's presence in the trenches matters against a Philadelphia front that loves to run.
The rest of the report is a mixed bag. Fellow defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw also landed on it with a back issue but practiced fully, so that's a milder concern. More relevant for fantasy managers: rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) was limited for a second consecutive day, and he's the name on this list that actually moves lineups.
The Fantasy Angle
Croskey-Merritt is the one to track here. He put up 140 PPR points in 2025 across 17 games — 805 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and 68 more through the air — which lands him at RB32 and #118 overall in our rankings. His last five games ran 2.3 fantasy points above his season average, so the arrow was pointing up before this groin flared up.
Two straight limited practices isn't a red alert, but it's not nothing either. A groin issue for a back who leans on burst is worth taking seriously, especially in a Week 1 spot where you don't yet have a full read on the backfield split. Watch Friday's designation closely.
Elsewhere, the news is quiet. Marcus Mariota (knee) practiced fully, as did tight end Ben Sinnott (oblique), though neither profiles as a needle-mover for now — Mariota is our QB33 (#149) off 126 PPR points last season, and Sinnott sits at TE66 (#363) after a 28-point 2025. Outside linebackers K'Lavon Chaisson (knee) and Odafe Oweh (calf) stayed limited too, but those are defensive names that only matter in IDP formats.
Bottom line: if you've got Croskey-Merritt penciled into a flex or RB2 slot, don't panic yet, but keep a backup warm and check for his Friday tag before you lock anything in. Everyone else on this report is a full participant or fantasy-irrelevant. Payne's addition is a defensive story worth monitoring, not a lineup decision.
