Some devastating news out of Dan Quinn’s press conference at Commanders Park Wednesday: WR Noah Brown has suffered a ‘significant internal injury,’ and may be out for the season.
“He’s going to be out for a while; he had a significant internal injury from the game (against Tennessee), and that’s going to knock him out for a while,” Quinn said. “During the game, him and the medical staff did a great job to address what was a serious injury, and fortunately, he’s going to be okay, but it’s going to knock him out for a bit. We’ll likely re-visit later in the week, but it’s heading that way (towards season ending).”
Brown had three catches in the first half of the Titans game, but he was injured in the middle of the third quarter on an incomplete pass from Jayden Daniels on the first play of the Commanders’ second drive of the second half.
His biggest play this year was the ‘Hail Jayden,’ but he has played 56 percent of Washington's offensive snaps and logged 35 catches on 56 targets for 453 yards and that now-famous TD - production that will have to be made up from some combination of other receivers.
“We love him; his play style, the identity of how he goes, and it hurts. He’s been one of our glue guys, and it’s one of the hardest parts as you’re going through it and miss significant time,” Quinn said. “We have a pretty deep crew there, and it helps where guys can play in different spots, but Noah does have some specific size and speed traits that are unique to him; he’s just such a tough, hard-ass competitor, and I love that he brings that to the team. I know he’ll get well and get back, but it’s tough because of what he brings both on and off the field.”
Brown and Austin Ekeler, who is also on IR, are third and fourth on the team in both catches and yards behind Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz, and entering the bye, Olamide Zaccheaus was the next leading receiver with 27 catches for 264 yards.
Behind McLaurin and Zaccheaus, the team of course has Dyami Brown and Luke McCaffrey active, as well as Mitchell Tinsley and Brycen Tremayne on the practice squad – and they have also opened the 21-day practice window on Jamison Crowder, so he could return in this stretch to help out as well.
“He’s had a good process going through, and we haven’t missed one step of his recovery, and that’s the biggest piece,” Quinn said of Crowder. “When we feel like it’s game ready, we will go, and we’ll make that decision when we see it, but his value as a returner and as a slot is proven.”