Washington Commanders third-year defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis is slated to enter a critical make-or-break season in 2024. Recurring injuries completely derailed his rookie and sophomore campaigns. It’s truly now-or-never for Mathis to establish himself under a new coaching staff.
The No. 47 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mathis was taken to be a rotational player behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. At the time, Payne was entering his fifth-year option season in 2022. Contract negotiations were looming, and perhaps Mathis could have served as an eventual replacement.
Disaster struck in his NFL debut. Mathis tore the meniscus in his left knee on the third play of Washington's Week 1 contest, an injury that led to him being placed on season-ending IR. Later that offseason, the Commanders placed the franchise tag on Payne before signing him to a four-year, $90 million extension.
With Allen and Payne both locked in via multi-year extensions, Mathis was to ease back into a rotational role as a sophomore. The former Alabama standout was once again placed on IR, this time before the season even began, with a calf injury in late August. It cost him seven games.
Through two completed NFL campaigns, Mathis has played a total of 206 defensive snaps. Mathis has accumulated eight tackles and zero sacks. It's borderline unfair to judge his 2023 campaign, but the numbers aren't particularly kind. Pro Football Focus assigned Mathis a run-stopping grade of 32.2.
The challenge for Mathis got even bigger this offseason. The Commanders cleaned house, hiring an entirely new coaching staff and front office. New head coach Dan Quinn is a defensive-minded leader who'll be tasked with maximizing Mathis' potential. Joe Whitt Jr. is the defensive coordinator, and former San Francisco 49ers assistant defensive line coach Darryl Tapp is his new position coach.
The Commanders are undoubtedly running out of patience. New general manager Adam Peters isn't the decision-maker who originally drafted Mathis. He did draft a potential replacement this offseason however when he utilized the 36th overall pick on former Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton.
Newton, a previously perceived first-round talent, is carrying injury concerns of his own. The former Illini standout underwent surgery in May to correct a Jones fracture in his left foot. Indications were that Newton required surgery in both of his feet. That’s concerning and could at least derail the start of his rookie season.
Mathis no longer possesses the leash of a second-round pick. In reality, he's an inherited asset from a previous regime that has spent more time sidelined than on the field. A particularly strong (and healthy) season is required to convince new decision-makers of his capability to contribute.
Newton isn't the only defensive tackle competing with Mathis for playing time behind the two full-time starters. Fellow third-year defensive tackle John Ridgeway is also on the roster and under contract for two more seasons.
The impending training camp and preseason periods represent a fresh start for Mathis. He's learning a new scheme while hopefully endearing himself to Quinn's coaching staff. Sink-or-swim months have already arrived for Mathis.