When Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 6, the initial prognosis was clear: his season was over, and he’d be sidelined until 2025.
However, it seems no one informed Allen of that.
On December 27, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn suggested that Allen might return for the Week 17 home game against the Atlanta Falcons. A win in that game would secure Washington’s first postseason appearance since 2020. They could also clinch a playoff spot if the Carolina Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Washington, currently 10-5, has already secured its first winning season since 2016.
Quinn mentioned that he would meet with the team’s medical staff and general manager Adam Peters to finalize plans for Allen’s return.
“Allen had a really good week and hit all the key markers in practice, so it was great to see him yesterday. His progress is trending upwards,” Quinn said. “I’m very optimistic about Jon coming back to play, knowing that there are specific milestones to hit and a surgery to undergo. I have a lot of respect for him and the effort he’s put in with the medical team.”
Allen, a 2017 first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) and a two-time Pro Bowler, is in the second-to-last year of a four-year, $72 million contract extension he signed in July 2021.
Allen Gearing Up Toward Return for Several Weeks
ESPN’s John Keim was the first to report on the possibility of Jonathan Allen’s return.
“Allen suffered the injury in a Week 6 loss to Baltimore, but during surgery, doctors discovered that his muscle was only partially torn, which sparked initial hope for a late-season return,” Keim wrote on December 13. “Further checkups have helped him maintain the belief that a return is possible, sources said.
While there’s no guarantee Allen will come back, he’s been working out at the Commanders’ facility, aiming for a return by the end of the month. He’ll need to prove he has regained all his strength.”
Quinn mentioned that Allen, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 300 pounds, had maintained his muscle mass and appeared physically the same as he did before the injury.
“You’d expect his size and strength to change,” Quinn said. “But you know how people say ‘built different’… well, (Allen) is built different.”
Commanders Face Huge Decision on Allen’s Contract
Since Jonathan Allen has already received the full $33.1 million in guaranteed money on his contract, the Commanders could opt to release him before next season, which would free up $17 million in cap space for 2025 — a year already projected to have a significant $101.5 million in space.
Through the first five games of this season, Allen appeared to be regaining his Pro Bowl form, recording 13 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
Over the past six seasons, Allen has averaged 62 tackles and 6.3 sacks per year, and he has never missed more than two games in a season during that stretch.
“Now in his eighth season, Allen has been a cornerstone of Washington’s defense since being drafted in the first round in 2017,” Keim wrote. “He made the Pro Bowl after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, posting a combined 16.5 sacks.”
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