Commanders hope to find second gear, replace injured Allen after loss to Ravens

The Washington Commanders’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens became tougher to swallow on Monday, as coach Dan Quinn announced the defensive tackle Jonathan Allen would miss the rest of the season with a pectoral tear.

Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler, suffered the injury on a touchdown run by Ravens running back Derrick Henry during Sunday’s 30-23 loss.

Though Quinn tried to find positives from the hard-fought loss against a tough Ravens squad, there was no way to sugarcoat Allen’s injury.

“It’s a big blow for us. Jon’s obviously been a staple player for us here in the play style and the attitude,” Quinn said. “We’re really bummed for him.”

The 29-year-old had recorded 15 tackles and two sacks this season.

Rookie Jer’Zhan Newton will likely help fill Allen’s spot on the line, though Quinn noted that it will take a platoon to replace the former first-round pick. 

“It’ll be a multitude of people in roles and how we can feature guys to do that, because Jon is rare and he’s got unique skills and talent. It’s not just plug-and-play,” Quinn said.”The good news is we’ve got a big, deep crew, and we’ll feature all of them a little bit differently.” 

That crew thinned out on Sunday, as defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste also exited the game with injuries. Armstrong is dealing with a rib or oblique issue, while Jean-Baptiste hurt his ankle. 

Quinn said both players will undergo additional medical testing this week. 

The defensive line has long been a strength for Washington’s defense, with Allen and fellow first-rounder Daron Payne anchoring the middle. The group has been less consistent outside of its two stars. 

Veteran edge rushers Clelin Ferrell and Dante Fowler will likely continue to take the majority of snaps during passing downs. Former linebacker Jamin Davis, who transitioned from off-ball linebacker this offseason, will join them on the outside. 

Defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, an Alabama product like Payne and Allen, could also see more playing time going forward. 

“I could feel [Mathis’] length and his strength, especially when he’s at defensive tackle,” Quinn said. “That’s where I feel like his best stuff is, combination blocks. Sometimes, some of his best plays, he’s taking two [blockers] and allows [linebacker Frankie] Luvu or [linebacker Bobby] Wagner to go.” 

Despite the injury woes, players and coaches took an optimistic look at this week’s loss. Baltimore is one of the most consistently successful teams in the NFL, and Washington’s four-game win streak was going to end eventually. 

The occasional tough loss is a necessity, according to Quinn. 

“You need to be in these hard matches that suck, and you’re pissed at the end because you didn’t make the plays you needed to make,” he said Monday. “That’s what identity is all about. They’re not formed when you’re rolling. They’re formed in these tough, close games.”

The Commanders’ defense struggled against the high-powered Ravens’ attack. When Washington loaded the box to stop Henry, quarterback Lamar Jackson would find a wide-open receiver in the middle of the field. If Washington focused on stopping the pass, Henry would rumble into the second level for a hefty chunk of yards. 

With running back Brian Robinson Jr. sidelined with a knee injury, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels continued his impressive season for the Burgundy and Gold. Without much help from the running game, the No. 2 pick threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns to keep his squad in the game. 

Though he made more highlight-worthy throws, Daniels’ routine plays impressed his coach the most — Quinn highlighted the throwaways on Monday.

Washington’s offense ran two-minute drills at the end of each half, but the rookie signal-caller was never shaken. Earlier in the season, Daniels may have taken a sack, forced a throw or scrambled in those scenarios. He was content to live for another down on Sunday.

“The football intelligence that he brings to the position is really strong. …” Quinn said. “In the biggest lights, it shows that he really stays grounded, prepared, doing all the stuff to go. It’s one of the reasons his teammates and staff think so highly of him.”

Quinn noted that Daniels is only part of the Commanders’ machine. The team needs to grow if they hope to turn a hot start into a potential playoff run.

“There’s definitely another gear, and it’s a gear that we need to get to and to finish against the teams we know we’re going to have to go battle with,” Quinn said. “That’s what we’re grinding for. ” 

Quinn said he feels confident because of a six-word refrain he heard from several players after Sunday’s loss: “We’re f——- gonna learn from this.”