Overview
- Newton tore his pectoral in the Commanders’ preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins and then saw a specialist in New York before undergoing surgery Wednesday, sources confirmed.
- Team and league insiders say the repair will sideline Newton for a significant stretch of the 2026 season, meaning he will miss multiple regular-season games while he recovers.
- Washington is already adjusting its interior defensive-line plan by accelerating Tim Settle’s ramp-up from his Lisfranc recovery and auditioning veterans such as Shy Tuttle, Byron Cowart and Ricky Barber Jr.
- Coach Dan Quinn plans to play a number of starters in Saturday’s preseason game but has not committed to using QB Jayden Daniels as the team balances live reps with protecting injured players.
- Newton was a 2024 second-round pick who entered Year 3 seen as a potential breakout; his loss compounds other recent injuries, including Laremy Tunsil’s triceps surgery, and creates immediate roster and developmental implications for the Commanders.