Commanders’ J.D. McKissic placed on IR with neck injury: Source

Washington Commanders running back J.D. McKissic was placed on the injured reserve list with a neck injury, a team source confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday. NFL Network first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:

McKissic has been out since suffering the injury after Washington’s Week 8 game against the Colts.
The 29-year-old rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries and caught 27 passes for 173 yards over the season’s first eight games.
Antonio Gibson has taken on more of the third-down back role with McKissic out.
Commanders defensive end Chase Young also remains on the physically unable to perform list and will not be activated to play against Houston, The Athletic confirmed.

Backstory

McKissic signed a two-year deal worth a maximum of $7 million last offseason. He rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns and caught 43 passes for 397 yards with two touchdowns last season, his second with the team.

The Commanders are 5-5 and face the Texans in Houston on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

What McKissic’s injury means for the Commanders

First off, let’s hope the injury doesn’t impact McKissic’s non-football life. This is the second neck injury in as many seasons. Last year’s ended his campaign, and this one is of a similar nature. McKissic is one of the more popular players in the locker room and a receiving threat, with 123 receptions over the previous two seasons.

For Washington, this is one position where depth is not an issue. Rookie Brian Robinson provides the interior power while Gibson is a true dual threat. McKissic fell to third in the RB hierarchy once Robinson returned after missing the opening four games. The Commanders also use wide receiver Curtis Samuel out of the backfield. Jonathan Williams serves as the third back. Jaret Patterson, currently on the practice squad, offers another shifty option.

The Commanders are 4-1 in their last five games and rank second in carries over that stretch after slotting 23rd through the opening five weeks. – Standig

When will Young play?

“We’re going to get to a point where we will activate (Young). We’ve got ’til next Tuesday,” coach Ron Rivera said Friday. “So, if we don’t activate him (Saturday), most certainly going to activate him by Tuesday or by the deadline. Just now, we’ve gotten his reps going, he’s part of the practice. … We’ll be fine either way. It’s just a matter of when do we play him.”

Washington kept the third-year lineman out of practice last week when weather conditions moved the team indoors and into its less-forgiving turf surface. Two of the Commanders’ next three games are on turf, including Sunday at Houston.

“He’s just got to get comfortable with it,” Rivera said about Young’s knee. “He has to now. I mean, whether it’s turf or his grass, you have to get yourself in that position where you’re confident, and you’re comfortable and you just go out and cut it loose.”

Having Young’s presence on the field will allow defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to rush four, which is the preference. For now, the Commanders will continue to mix and match with starter James Smith-Williams, and reserve ends Efe Obada and Casey Toohill. – Standig