The Washington Commanders are getting their Hall of Fame linebacker for their biggest game of the last 20 years. Bobby Wagner will be available for the Commanders' playoff game against the Detroit Lions in the Divisional round.
Wagner was out on Tuesday and Wednesday with an ankle injury, but head coach Dan Quinn dismissed any speculation that he would be unable to play on Saturday.
"No," Quinn said when about any concerns for Wagner. "He did a good job on the rehab part of it. ... 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's had at least 100 in each of his seasons as a pro -- and had eight tackles with a quarterback hit against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wagner supplied one of the game-changing plays in the 23-20 Wild Card. He fell on a fumble by Baker Mayfield in the fourth quarter, setting the offense up at Tampa Bay's 13-yard line. The Commanders scored and took the lead on a five-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin four plays later.
"He is a rare competitor," Quinn said of Wagner in his postgame press conference. "So much of his success is unseen work. I'm in early. He's already there. He'll be the first one in tomorrow. I'm certain of it. He's just that type of competitor that he doesn't back off of it."
The Commanders will need more of that against the Lions, who boast one of the best offenses in the league. They ended the regular season ranked second in yards per game, first in points and fourth in third-down conversion rate.
Quinn also said there was no concern about Zane Gonzalez, who appeared on the injury report with a hip issue. Gonzalez hit 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 earlier in the week reinjured his hamstring, has been 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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