Commanders' key rookie has another disappointing layer added to his injury situation before training camp

The Washington Commanders snagged one of the best players in the draft, at a very good value, when they selected Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton with the 36th overall pick in the second round.

Alongside stalwarts Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, Newton can easily help shape the NFL's most feared interior defensive line rotation. But, the Commanders, along with everyone else supporting the burgundy and gold, are going to have wait a bit longer before they can see what that looks like in real time.

Not only did Newton recently have surgery on his other foot (he had an initial surgery done after the 2023 collegiate season), said surgery has placed him on the NFI list, or non-football injury list, which means he'll be out of action until team doctors and trainers clear him to play.

The NFI list is for players that have experienced injuries that aren't related to professional football. If placed on the Reserve/NFI, the player won't count toward the active roster and will have to miss the first four games of the season, at minimum. According to Commanders.com's Zach Selby, Newton can come off the list at any point during training camp/the preseason, which likely means he's on the Active/NFI list.

However, if Newton remains on the list after roster cuts, he'll have to miss the first four games of the season. The Commanders can then open up a three-week practice window in order to get him back on track. If he's not cleared within those three weeks, though, he'll have to sit the rest of the season.

The NFI can play a role both this season and down the road. If Newton misses the year, he won't get the much-sought-after accrued season all NFL players seek. This can affect his free agency status when he's up for a new deal in 2028.

A recent example: Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Darrell Taylor missed his rookie season in 2020 while on the NFI and it prevented him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this past offseason. Instead, he was a restricted free agent and was limited in his options. Fortunately, the Seahawks both paid him for his rookie season and gave him a decent, one-year deal for 2024. Still, it's easy to see how the NFI can play a big role in how a player's future turns out.

Regardless, it's another disappointing layer added to Newton's recovery timeline. There was palpable excitement surrounding the pick, and for good reason, but he's yet to practice in any capacity with the team. And now, that moment is still up-in-the-air after rookies reported on Thursday, July 18.