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NFL news roundup: Commanders DT Newton to miss 'significant' time after pec surgery

Commanders DT Jer'Zhan Newton to miss significant time after undergoing pec surgery.

First seen Aug 20, 2026 · 2:37 PM UTC · last updated Aug 20 4:08 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Jer'Zhan Newton's pec surgery and expected extended absence is purely a defensive-line/IDP note, not a factor for standard offensive fantasy formats, so it doesn't move the needle on Jayden Daniels, Josh Simmons, or any other Commanders skill-position or offensive-line names attached to this cluster. If your league scores IDP, Newton should come off draft boards or drop toward the bottom of your DT rankings given he'll miss real time to start the year — treat him as a late-round dart at best or a cut candidate if roster spots are precious.

For everyone else swept into this news cluster — Trey Smith, Ashton Gillotte, Tyson Bagent, Patrick Mahomes, Jeff Caldwell, Cole Van Lanen, Rachaad White, Nick Allegretti, Tyler Warren, Justin Fields, Jayden Daniels — there's no actual reporting here tying them to an injury or role change; they appear to be name-associated noise around the Newton item rather than subjects of new news. Don't adjust their draft stock based on this cluster alone. Keep Mahomes, Fields, Daniels, White, and Warren evaluated on their existing preseason profiles and depth-chart expectations; nothing in this report changes their outlook.

Bottom line heading into draft prep: this is a low-relevance blip for standard leagues, a real but minor value hit for IDP rosters (fade Newton short-term), and not a signal to reshuffle any skill-position rankings. Confidence is high on the Newton report itself (100% sourced), but there's nothing concrete here to act on for the rest of the names — treat this as noise until further specific reporting surfaces on those players.

NFL news roundup: Commanders DT Newton to miss 'significant' time after pec surgery

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INJURIES

  • QB Tyson Bagent is week to week with a hamstring injury, coach Ben Johnson said.

PRESEASON NEWS

  • HC Zac Taylor told reporters that he expects to sit Bengals starters for Saturday's preseason game against Chicago.

INJURIES

  • TE Tyler Warren Is expected to miss about a week with a minor groin injury suffered in training camp, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday, per a source. There is no concern about the 2025 first-rounder's availability for Week 1.

INJURIES

  • OL Cole Van Lanen (knee) was activated off the physically unable to perform list.

PRESEASON NEWS

  • HC Andy Reid said that QB Justin Fields will start and play into the second quarter of Saturday's preseason game against Tampa Bay. Patrick Mahomes will sit, as will OL Josh Simmons and Trey Smith.

INJURIES

  • WR Jeff Caldwell is dealing with a hyperextended knee, per Reid.
  • DE Ashton Gillotte suffered a ruptured plantar fascia during Tuesday's practice, Reid said.

SIGNINGS

ROSTER CUTS

  • OT Matt Waletzko waived with injury designation

INJURIES

  • RB Rachaad White (hamstring) won't play Saturday against the Lions, but his injury is expected to be a short-term issue, per coach Dan Quinn.
  • C Nick Allegretti is dealing with calf tightness and won't play Saturday, Quinn said.
  • DT Jer'Zhan Newton underwent surgery to repair a torn pec, Quinn confirmed. Newton will miss a "significant" amount of time. Newton, a 2024 second-round pick, is entering his third season in D.C. He has started 13 of 33 games played for Washington, totaling seven sacks.

PRESEASON NEWS

  • Quinn told reporters that "a good amount" of starters will play in Saturday's preseason game vs. the Lions. QB Jayden Daniels' availability is TBD depending on who else is playing, per Quinn.
Coverage from Nfl Dot Com News · by Around the NFL Staff · Aug 20, 2026 · read original