Commanders Place Kinlaw on Injured Reserve
Washington defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw will miss the rest of the season after knee surgery to repair a torn MCL.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
The Washington Commanders will place defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw on injured reserve after he underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn MCL. Kinlaw left Sunday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with an apparent knee injury.
Why it matters
The move removes a veteran interior lineman from Washington's defensive front for the remainder of the season. It also adds to the team's injury concerns, as the Commanders lost defensive lineman Daron Payne to a season-ending injury as well.
Kinlaw appeared in 10 combined games for the 49ers in 2021 and 2022 before playing all 17 games in 2023, when he recorded 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He later totaled 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks with the New York Jets.
The players
Javon Kinlaw
A defensive tackle drafted 14th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 out of South Carolina, who has also played for the New York Jets and now Washington.
Washington Commanders
The NFL franchise based in Washington, D.C., which is placing Kinlaw on injured reserve.
The details
Kinlaw left Washington's game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night with an apparent knee injury. He underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn MCL, and Washington will place him on injured reserve.
Timeline
2020: The San Francisco 49ers drafted Kinlaw 14th overall out of South Carolina.
2021-2022: Kinlaw appeared in 10 combined games for the 49ers.
2023: Kinlaw played all 17 games for the 49ers.
2024: Kinlaw signed with the New York Jets.
2025: Kinlaw joined the Washington Commanders.
Season Trajectory
Kinlaw was a 14th overall pick in 2020 who has since moved from San Francisco to the Jets and now Washington, a path that reflects the frequent roster turnover of former first-round defensive linemen. The season-ending injury removes a depth piece from a Commanders defensive line already weakened by the loss of Daron Payne.
Kinlaw's injured reserve placement opens a roster spot and shifts snap distribution along Washington's defensive interior for the rest of the season. Fantasy managers relying on Kinlaw's 4.5-sack output from his Jets stint should drop him from lineups.
The takeaway
Injuries to depth linemen can quickly reshape a team's defensive rotation, so watch how Washington reallocates snaps in the coming weeks.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster situation, see Football coverage from Washington.
