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John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterDec 13, 2024, 03:10 PM ET
- John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, once feared lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, has not abandoned hope for a return in 2024, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.
Allen suffered the injury in a Week 6 loss at Baltimore but during surgery doctors discovered that his muscle was only partially torn, sparking the initial hope for a late season return. Further checkups have at least helped him maintain the belief that a return is possible, sources said.
If Allen is able to return it would provide a boost for the Commanders (8-5) as they try to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2020. Washington plays at New Orleans (5-8) on Sunday.
There is no guarantee that Allen will come back, sources said, but he has been working out at the Commanders’ facility with an eye toward returning by the end of the month. He would need to prove he has regained all of his strength before he could return.
Allen was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 16 and, before he could return, Washington would need to open the 21-day window so he could practice with the team. The Commanders have yet to do so. In place of Allen, Washington has started rookie Jer’Zhan Newton next to Daron Payne.
Allen, in his eighth season, has been a key member of Washington’s defense since it drafted him in the first round in 2017. He made the Pro Bowl after the 2021 and ’22 seasons when he had a combined 16.5 sacks. He had two sacks in six games this season.
Allen has one more year left on his contract, but there’s no guaranteed money, so the Commanders would save $17 million on their salary cap if they released him or they could opt to extend him and lower his cap hit.
