Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn ruled out two players Wednesday.

The Commanders travel to MetLife Stadium to face the NFC East-leading New York Giants (5-2-1) Thursday night. The Commanders, three games behind the Giants at 2-5-1, will be without tight end Colson Yankoff and center Lucas Patrick.

Patrick came to the Commanders after the center position became exposed when Nick Allegretti was injured, recovered, was injured again, and then struggled. So, the Commanders signed Patrick, the 33-year-old veteran, and by Week 3 Patrick was the starting center. Patrick started the past six games and was, according to coaches, an upgrade at the position. However, on Sunday, Patrick was injured and did not return for the second half, having been placed in observation for a possible concussion.

This being a short week because of the NFL owners’ insistence on making money from another television network, regardless of the limited time it provides their players to recover from a brutal NFL game on Sunday, Patrick is understandably already ruled out by Quinn.

Allegretti will return as the starting center, facing the Giants, Thursday. Guard/center Matt Gulbin, a rookie from Michigan State, has played some center, like the second half last Sunday. But that didn’t go well at all.

Yankoff is more valuable than most realize. Yes, Yankoff only has three receptions for 22 yards in this 2026 season. But did you realize that through eight games, Yankoff is the Commanders’ highest-rated special teams player per Pro Football Focus, leading the Commanders with seven special teams tackles? Someone will need to step up for the Commanders’ special teams punt and kickoff coverage units on Thursday, or Yankoff could be missed in a big way.