Both starting defensive tackles out as Commanders host Eagles in a Sunday night game they can't afford to lose
Washington enters Week 8 with a hollowed-out interior defensive line after confirming Daron Payne suffered a season-ending Jones fracture, leaving the Commanders without either starting DT against Saquon Barkley and a Philadelphia offense that beat them in Week 1.
In brief
A defensive line wiped out, a trade deadline looming, and Saquon Barkley coming to town
By the time Sunday night kicks off at Northwest Stadium in Landover, the Washington Commanders will send out a defensive interior that looks nothing like what Dan Quinn drew up in the offseason. Daron Payne is done for the year. So is Javon Kinlaw. Both starting defensive tackles, gone, as Washington (1-4-1) hosts the Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) in a Week 8 Sunday Night Football game that carries genuine season-or-bust weight.
Payne suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot at practice Friday. By Saturday, multiple outlets including the Associated Press confirmed the injury is season-ending. A Jones fracture, a break at the base of the fifth metatarsal, typically requires three to four months of recovery and surgery. Payne was not just Washington's best interior lineman. He played 53 of the team's 62 defensive snaps in the Week 6 loss to San Francisco.
Kinlaw has been out since that same 49ers game, when he hurt his knee in the first half. So Washington goes into Sunday night with neither of the men who were supposed to anchor the middle of its defense. The team elevated eight-year veteran Byron Cowart from the practice squad as the lone call-up for the game, alongside Shy Tuttle and Tim Settle as the functioning interior depth. That is a thin group to throw at Saquon Barkley.
The trade deadline is nine days away
Washington's NFL trade deadline is November 10. Nine days away. With the team sitting at 1-4-1, general manager Adam Peters now faces a direct question: do you add help to try to save this season, or do you accept the rebuild and start moving veterans before the deadline? A loss Sunday drops Washington to 1-5-1 through seven games, hands Philadelphia a sweep of the regular-season series, and makes any playoff math extremely uncomfortable.
The Eagles, meanwhile, arrive as a 5.5-point underdog on a five-game losing streak, their own season in freefall. Pro Football Reference lists Washington as a 5.5-point favorite at Northwest Stadium. Philadelphia is also missing wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), both officially ruled out. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell is also out. The Eagles are wounded, which is the only reason this game still feels winnable despite everything Washington is dealing with up front.
The Commanders have also lost wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a torn patellar tendon suffered against the 49ers. That's their leading receiver, their offensive identity, gone for the year. Quinn elevated Van Jefferson to the active roster to add another body at receiver, though Jefferson has played in just one regular-season game this season. Treylon Burks, added in the offseason, now becomes the primary outside target for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels has to carry this
On paper, Sunday night comes down to whether Daniels can be sharp enough to offset what promises to be a rough night for the defensive line. Quinn acknowledged the burden the schedule puts on his team's depth, telling reporters: "We certainly know what's ahead over the next, you know, three games, and all of them in the conference and two of them are in the division."
After tonight, Washington hosts the Los Angeles Rams on November 8, then travels to play the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football on November 12. Three games in 12 days. All conference games. Two division games. The roster depth required for that stretch is not what the Commanders currently have.
The broader picture is grim. Washington entered 2026 with legitimate expectations after a promising finish to the 2024 campaign. Daniels was the centerpiece. The defense was supposed to be the foundation. Now the foundation has a hole where its two starting tackles used to be, and Peters has to decide in the next nine days whether to patch it at the trade deadline or accept that this year is already something else.
Byron Cowart, 28 years old, eight NFL seasons, gets the call Sunday night in primetime. He has not started a regular-season game since 2022.
--- Now let me format the final answer properly: PUBLISH: yes TITLE: Both starting defensive tackles out as Commanders host Eagles in a Sunday night game they can't afford to lose EXCERPT: Washington enters Week 8 with a hollowed-out interior defensive line after confirming Daron Payne suffered a season-ending Jones fracture, leaving the Commanders without either starting DT against Saquon Barkley and an Eagles offense that beat them in Week 1. META: Washington Commanders host the Eagles Sunday night without DTs Daron Payne (Jones fracture) and Javon Kinlaw (knee), leaving their interior line in crisis at 1-4-1. SUBJECT: Washington Commanders defensive line Northwest Stadium 2026 NFL ALT: Washington Commanders players line up defensively at Northwest Stadium ahead of their Week 8 Sunday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles ---HTML---
A defensive line wiped out, a trade deadline looming, and Saquon Barkley coming to town
By the time Sunday night kicks off at Northwest Stadium in Landover, the Washington Commanders will send out a defensive interior that looks nothing like what Dan Quinn drew up in the offseason. Daron Payne is done for the year. So is Javon Kinlaw. Both starting defensive tackles, gone, as Washington (1-4-1) hosts the Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) in a Week 8 Sunday Night Football game with genuine season-or-bust stakes.
Multiple outlets including the Associated Press confirmed that Payne suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot at practice Friday. A Jones fracture, a break at the base of the fifth metatarsal, is season-ending. Payne had played 53 of Washington's 62 defensive snaps against San Francisco, he was not just the team's best interior lineman, he was irreplaceable in terms of snap count. The Commanders ruled out Payne after he suffered the Jones fracture at practice, a big blow compounded by Javon Kinlaw already being ruled out with a knee injury.
So Washington goes into Sunday night without either man who was supposed to anchor the middle of its defense. The team elevated DT Byron Cowart from the practice squad to add some depth, Cowart is an eight-year veteran who has not started a regular-season game in years. He lines up alongside Shy Tuttle and Tim Settle. That is a thin group to throw at Saquon Barkley.
The trade deadline is nine days away
The NFL trade deadline falls on November 10. Nine days. A loss Sunday would drop Washington to 1-5-1 and hand Philadelphia a sweep of the season series. With the trade deadline approaching, GM Adam Peters also faces a growing question about whether this roster deserves additional investment or whether Washington should begin prioritizing the future.
On Sunday night, the Commanders host Philadelphia for the first time in 13 days after a rough outing against the 49ers on MNF. The following week, Washington hosts the Rams on Sunday, November 8, before traveling to play the Giants on Thursday Night Football on November 12. Three games in 12 days, all in conference, two in division. The roster depth required for that stretch does not match what Washington currently has.
Quinn was direct about the pressure. "We certainly know what's ahead over the next, you know, three games, and all of them in the conference and two of them are in the division. So, um, our focus right now is just on Philadelphia now," Quinn said.
The Eagles arrive as significant underdogs despite Washington's problems. Philadelphia sits at 2-5 heading into Northwest Stadium, facing a Commanders team listed as a 5.5-point favorite. DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) are both officially ruled out for Philadelphia, and linebacker Jihaad Campbell is also out. The Eagles are wounded. The only reason Sunday still looks winnable for Washington is that Philadelphia's own season has cratered.
The offense is short-handed too
It is not only the defensive line. Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon, removing Washington's leading receiver from the rest of the year. The Commanders promoted Van Jefferson to the 53-man roster. Jefferson has played in just one regular-season game for the Commanders this season. Treylon Burks, according to Fox Sports, becomes the primary outside option for quarterback Jayden Daniels if healthy.
The broader picture is straightforward and uncomfortable. Washington entered 2026 with real expectations after Daniels' promising 2024 season. The defense was the foundation. The foundation now has a hole where both starting tackles used to stand, and Peters has nine days to decide whether to patch it at the trade deadline or acknowledge that this year has already become something else.
Byron Cowart gets the call Sunday night in primetime. He has not been a regular starter since 2022. That is where the Commanders are right now.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
