After the most recent injury update, landing Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton in the second round no longer appears to be a draft steal.
Many praised the Washington Commanders for selecting Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton with their second-round pick as a player regarded as a Day 1 NFL Draft prospect by scouts and analysts, so it is disappointing to learn that he will have surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, according to John Keim of ESPN. As Keim points out, Newton had a procedure for the same injury to his right foot at some point during the 2023 season at Illinois, making this a notable trend that could explain why he fell to the 36th overall pick while also dealing a massive blow to the Commanders as they enter the Dan Quinn coaching era.
Commanders rookie DT Jer’Zhan ‘Johnny’ Newton will undergo foot surgery, out for several months
Doctors diagnosed Newton with a similar problem in his left foot when evaluating him for his previously surgically repaired one, Quinn told reporters during a recent media appearance. Newton was sidelined for nearly three months between his procedure in January and his personal pro day on April 16, providing us a sense of what to expect from his current rehab timeline.
As talented as Newton may be, having been ranked No. 25 on Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network’s top 150 prospects for 2024, injuries (specifically to his feet) are a recurring theme and issue, making the overall outlook of the Commanders draft class appear more uncertain than previously thought. Newton did not participate in Washington’s rookie minicamp and was observed with a walking boot on his left foot, which predicted the sad news that Quinn shared after the fact.
Newton has 52 total tackles (26 solo) and 7.5 sacks in 2023, winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-American honours while looking like a three-down NFL 3-tech defensive tackle. While it is too early for the Commanders to experience buyer’s remorse, his injury history is alarming and explains how he managed to miss the first round.
Hopefully, Newton will be able to return to the field soon and put his foot problems behind him, for the sake of both himself and Washington.
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