The Washington Commanders will host their Hall of Fame linebacker for their biggest game in 20 years. Bobby Wagner will be available for the Commanders’ playoff game against the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.
Wagner was out Tuesday and Wednesday with an ankle injury, but head coach Dan Quinn dismissed speculation he wouldn’t be able to play Saturday.
“No,” Quinn said of his concerns about Wagner. “He’s done a good job rehabbing. … He looks strong.”
Wagner has been the Commanders’ emotional and statistical leader all season. He led the team with 132 tackles during the regular season – he had at least 100 in each of his seasons as a professional – and had eight quarterback tackles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wagner provided one of the game-changing plays in the 23-20 Wild Card. He fell on a Baker Mayfield fumble in the fourth quarter, putting the offense at the Tampa Bay 13-yard line. The Commanders scored and took the lead on a five-yard touchdown run to Terry McLaurin four plays later.
“He’s a rare competitor,” Quinn said of Wagner during his postgame press conference. “A lot of his success is due to invisible work. I’m ahead. He’s already there. He’ll be first tomorrow. I’m sure of it. He’s just that type of competitor that he doesn’t back down from . of this.”
The Commanders will need it more against the Lions, who have one of the best offenses in the league. They finished the regular season ranked second in yards per game, first in points and fourth in third down conversion rate.
Quinn also said there were no concerns regarding Zane Gonzalez, who was listed on the injury report with a hip issue. Gonzalez made the game-winning field goal against the Buccaneers that sent Washington to the divisional round for the first time since 2005.
Linebacker Jordan Magee, who Quinn said re-injured his hamstring earlier in the week, was ruled out for Saturday’s game. Mykal Walker and Colson Yankoff are both questionable. The remaining players on Washington’s injury report, including Brandon Coleman, Marshon Lattimore, Frankie Luvu and Zach Ertz, will be ready to go.
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