Washington will have its top offensive lineman available Sunday against the Giants. The team activated Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff, moving him from its IR list to the 53-man roster.
An MCL sprain paused Scherff’s season, but it appears he will only have to miss the three mandated games that come with a 2020 IR placement. While there are obviously other factors at play, Washington is 1-0 with Scherff playing a full game this season and 0-4 without him. Scherff’s absence certainly hurt Washington last week, when Aaron Donald beat both of Washington’s starting guards en route to a career-high four sacks.
Although Washington is not expected to contend for a playoff spot, even out of this year’s woeful NFC East, Scherff has some key games ahead. He has missed 16 games over the past three seasons, after only missing two from 2015-17. Washington slapped its franchise tag on Scherff this year, becoming the first team since the Patriots in 2011 to tag a guard. Scherff staying healthy the rest of the way would put him in position for a massive extension.
In his sixth season, Scherff will turn 29 this December. While the Iowa product has been one of the game’s best guards when healthy since being drafted fifth overall, his next contract will likely cover the remainder of his prime. That will make staying healthy paramount for Scherff to maximize his value — either with Washington or in free agency.
Give him a 6 year extension
So one advantage for Scherff being on IR would be his lack of penalties. He missed 16 games in three years and is still a leading penalty generator in the NFL.