Washington Redskins: Da’Ron Payne injury opens door for Tim Settle
Losing first-round pick Daron Payne for 2-3 weeks was not good news for the Washington Redskins, but it could open the door for fellow rookie Tim Settle.
Washington Redskins‘ fans everywhere were stunned on Saturday morning when head coach announced first-round pick Da’Ron Payne would miss about two or three weeks of training camp after suffering an ankle injury during Friday’s practice.
It turns out, the injury isn’t that serious and the team is taking the precautionary route with its first-round pick.
Payne may actually only miss a week of time.
Defensive tackle Daron Payne will miss two to three weeks after injuring his ankle during practice Friday. He'll be in a boot for the next week. Payne will start at nose tackle. Coach Jay Gruden said the absence won't hurt Payne much. "He's in great... https://t.co/4UGlhEreZm
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 28, 2018
Payne’s absence could open up opportunities for a fellow rookie, Tim Settle. At one point during practice last week, Settle was playing with the first-string defense. And, according to some in attendance, was standing out for his individual performance.
With Daron Payne out of practice for a ‘minimum’ of a week, keep an eye on rookie DT Tim Settle who has made some nice plays over the last 2 days or training camp. #Redskins
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) July 28, 2018
Settle was expected to fill more of a backup role as a rookie, with Payne, Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Stacy McGee and Anthony Lanier all ahead of him on the depth chart. However, his combination of size, strength and athleticism could open up some eyes this summer, especially if he can make some plays during preseason games. The coaches love Settle, but coaches worried about his lack of experience as he only one started one full season at Virginia Tech.
Jim Tomsula is one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL. The work he did with Ioannidis and Lanier last season was outstanding. Settle possesses vast potential and the Tomsula is the type of coach who can tap into that talent. If Washington can get Settle involved in the rotation on a weekly basis, the defensive line will be much stronger. Depth has been a major issue for this for years.
Settle can help the Redskins against the run and the pass. As a full-time starter for the Hokies in 2017, Settle had 36 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He often beat double-teams with ease and routinely got into the opposition’s backfield.
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While Payne’s injury isn’t a good thing and the coaching staff would prefer not to lose a rookie for any amount of time, this does open the door for another rookie and everyone could benefit in the end.