Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Out for season after MCL surgery
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Kinlaw underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair his MCL, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.
Washington placed Kinlaw on injured reserve Tuesday, but it wasn't immediately known how much time the knee injury he initially sustained Week 6 would keep him out of commission. Now that Kinlaw has opted for surgery, he'll remain on IR for the Commanders' final 10 games in what amounts to another major hit to the defensive line. Washington also placed nose tackle Daron Payne on IR on Tuesday after he needed surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Placed on IR
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Kinlaw (knee) was placed on injured reserve by the Commanders on Tuesday.
Kinlaw suffered a knee injury in Week 6 versus San Francisco, and he was ultimately forced to miss the team's Week 8 win over the Eagles. The defensive lineman will now be sidelined for at least four more contests before he'd be eligible to return to action Dec. 6 versus the Titans.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Confirmed out for Week 8
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Kinlaw (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Kinlaw injured his knee in Week 6 against the 49ers, and even with the Week 7 bye, the veteran defensive end was not expected to be cleared to play in Sunday's NFC East tilt. Charles Omenihu, Deatrich Wise and Shy Tuttle are all in line for more defensive snaps in the absence of Kinlaw, whose next opportunity to play is Week 9 against the Rams on Sunday, Nov. 8.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Doubtful for Week 8
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Head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday that Kinlaw (knee) is "unlikely" to play against the Eagles on Sunday, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Kinlaw injured his knee during the first half of the Commanders' Week 6 loss against the 49ers. He had additional time to recover thanks to the Week 7 bye, but it looks like the veteran defensive lineman will not play in Sunday's NFC East tilt. Charles Omenihu (groin/ankle), Shy Tuttle and Deatrich Wise would all be in line for more defensive snaps if Kinlaw is indeed ruled out.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Won't return Monday
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Kinlaw (shoulder) won't return to Washington's matchup versus the 49ers on Monday, John Keim of ESPN reports.
Kinlaw is done for the night after picking up a shoulder injury in the first half. He had previously dealt with a shoulder issue last month, although it's unclear if this is related or a new injury. In his absence, Shy Tuttle and Deatrich Wise should be in line for increased playing time for the remainder of Monday's game.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Ready for Week 3
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Kinlaw (shoulder) does not have any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
Kinlaw improved his participation in practice throughout Week 3, moving from a non-participant in Wednesday's session to a full participant by Friday. The defensive tackle has recovered from his shoulder injury and is set to take the field alongside Tim Settle and Daron Payne on the defensive line in Sunday's contest.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Needs imaging on shoulder
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Head coach Dan Quinn said Monday that Kinlaw is dealing with a shoulder injury and will require an MRI, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Kinlaw presumably picked up the injury during the Commanders' 37-20 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday, when he logged two solo tackles and a sack while playing 31 of 55 defensive snaps. He had previously been nursing a back issue leading up to Sunday's contest.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Good to go against Dallas
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Kinlaw (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
Kinlaw popped up on Thursday's injury report as a DNP due to a back injury and drew the questionable tag for Week 2. He's been given the green light by medical staff to play Sunday and will start next to Daron Payne on the defensive line.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Sets new career high in tackles
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Kinlaw recorded 43 total tackles (24 solo) and a forced fumble over 17 contests during the 2025 regular season.
Kinlaw joined the Commanders ahead of the 2025 campaign, inking a three-year, $45 million contract with the team. The defensive tackle was able to secure a career-high 43 takedowns on the season, finishing behind only Daron Payne (46) on Washington's defensive line. Kinlaw has now played in all 17 of his team's regular-season contests in each of the last three campaigns, and he'll look to continue his productive run in 2026.
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Commanders' Javon Kinlaw: Going to nation's capital
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The Commanders are in line to sign Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Kinlaw posted career-high marks across the board while starting all 17 regular-season games with the Jets in 2024, totaling 40 tackles (27 solo), including 4.5 sacks, plus two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He'll form a formidable interior tandem alongside Daron Payne (knee) in Washington, with 2024 second-rounder Jer'Zhan Newton also on hand to contribute after a solid rookie campaign.
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Jets' Javon Kinlaw: Records sack in loss
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Kinlaw recorded five tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Colts.
The defensive tackle also played on 66 percent of the defensive snaps. Kinlaw has 32 tackles (20 solo), including 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2024.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Set to join jets
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Kinlaw agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Jets on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Kinlaw was drafted by the 49ers in 2020 and has spent four years there. He finished the 2023 campaign with 25 tackles (13 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and three passes defensed across 17 games as a depth interior lineman. He will play a similar role in New York while he works to earn reps behind Quinton Jefferson (groin) and Quinnen Williams.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Underwhelms in fourth season
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Kinlaw finished the 2023 regular season with 25 tackles (13 solo), 3.5 sacks and three passes defensed across 17 games. He added nine stops (seven solo) over the 49ers' three playoff games.
Kinlaw's fourth season with San Francisco came to a tepid end, despite appearing in every game for the first time in his career. The 2020 first-round selection operated primarily as a backup to Javon Hargrave, who was signed last offseason to handle the role Kinlaw was supposed to fill when he was drafted. The 49ers already declined Kinlaw's fifth-year option for 2024, making the interior lineman an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Fifth-year option declined
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The 49ers opted not to pick up the fifth-year option on Kinlaw's rookie contract Friday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kinlaw was selected by the 49ers with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he has struggled to stay healthy, playing in just 24 games in his first three seasons. General manager John Lynch told reporters on Friday that Kinlaw was having "an outstanding offseason," and San Francisco views him as a key rotational player for the defense. Kinlaw will be behind defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who signed a four-year, $84 million contract with the 49ers in March.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Activated from injured reserve
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The 49ers activated Kinlaw (knee) from injured reserve Friday.
Kinlaw was designated to return from injured reserve Tuesday and has since been added to the active roster, putting him in line to make his first appearance since suffering an elbow injury during Week 3. Given his prolonged absence, Kinlaw figures to be limited during his presumed return to action against the Commanders on Saturday.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Out for Week 6
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Kinlaw (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Falcons, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Kinlaw will miss a third straight game due to a knee injury he picked during prep ahead of Week 3. In his absence, Kevin Givens and Hassan Ridgeway have garnered increased roles along the 49ers' defensive line.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Questionable for Week 4
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Kinlaw (knee) is questionable to play in Monday's game against the Rams, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kinlaw managed a limited practice Saturday after failing to participate in the first two sessions of the week. He has only two tackles on the season, but he has played on well over half of the 49ers' defensive snaps through three games.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Put on injured reserve
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Kinlaw (knee) was put on injured reserve Saturday following knee surgery, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The move was already anticipated since Kinlaw had already been declared out for the season. Kentavius Street had already taken over the 24-year-old's starting role in Week 7 with Zach Kerr also seeing a bump in playing time.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Has season-ending surgery
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Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Friday that Kinlaw ended up getting season-ending surgery on his knee, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
Kinlaw will finish his sophomore season with just eight tackles and no sacks over four appearances. On the bright side, Shanahan believes the surgery has successfully addressed the issue with Kinlaw's knee. The 2020 first-round pick will aim for a healthier and more productive 2022 campaign, while Kentavius Street will likely jump into a starting role along San Francisco's defensive line.
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49ers' Javon Kinlaw: Doubtful for Week 1
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Kinlaw (knee) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Lions, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.
It's unclear whether this knee injury is related to the knee swelling Kinlaw dealt with early in training camp. Either way, the starting defensive tackle is unlikely to dress for the season opener, which would open up an opportunity for Kentavius Street to take on a larger role.
