Thursday evening’s Week 2 confrontation between the Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers grew tense during the second quarter. Lambeau Field, normally electric with tension, became chillingly quiet as fans and players anxiously waited. Suspense hung in the air when a key defensive player fell, with the crowd and both teams collectively holding their breath.

The moment was when Washington defensive lineman Deatrich Wise suffered an injury on a play, bringing action to a stop as he was  carted off from the field to be evaluated. With David Aldridge tweeting on X: ”Entire Commanders team on the field as Deatrich Wise is carted off…” The two teams kneeled together as trainers attended to Wise, and the extent of the situation became clear. Later, it was confirmed the worst — Wise has been declared out for the rest of the game with a quadriceps strain.

The injury happened during the second quarter when a player from the Packers fell on Wise’s leg. Wise had already made a tackle during the game before he got injured. Washington was already down 13-0 and had conceded a first-quarter touchdown, a 5-yard Jordan Love pass to Romeo Doubs, and a 2-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs. Opposing players could be seen openly worried about Wise’s health, and the atmosphere soon became somber as the cart emerged onto the field. Wise’s removal created a huge void in the Commanders’ defensive line.

Wise, 31, signed this offseason with Washington for one year for $5 million after spending eight years with the New England Patriots. He was to be a key player in rebuilding the defensive front, which ranked 28th in the NFL last year. Wise had three tackles, one of them for loss, and a quarterback hit in the opener as he helped hold the Giants to just 74 rushing yards. His absence will compel other defensive ends like Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Jacob Martin, and Von Miller to pick up more work in his absence. However, there is no confirmation on how long he will be out due to this injury. Anything can be confirmed after the proper medical evaluation.

Pre-Game health issues for Wise

The Wise injury was especially ominous given his pre-game condition. He had been questionable due to a knee injury in the previous week, but had trained on Monday and Tuesday but with restriction on Wednesday. His presence on the field was already risky, and the fact that he was facing an opposing stiff Packers roster made the move suspect.

The squad also posed questions elsewhere on the pitch. Tight end John Bates, who had been struggling with a groin problem, was also listed as questionable to play, and punter Tress Way was still listed as questionable due to the back injury he suffered in Week 1. Even though Way practiced later in the week and Washington had signed backup punter Mitch Wishnowsky to the practice squad, the overall situation was one of concern over Washington’s depth and preparedness. Head coach Dan Quinn stressed prudence, saying, “The concern is lower for us now, but like most things, [we] just try to always protect the team and make the decisions.”

With Wise officially ruled out for the remainder of Thursday night’s game, the Commanders will have to scramble to make the adjustment. The defensive rotation will be disrupted.  Beyond this week alone, Wise’s health will become a vital narrative for Washington’s defensive strategy over the upcoming weeks. Their capacity to hold onto competitive ground in his absence may be a decisive factor of their season-long strategy.