Matt

Ioannidis

Ioannidis lands with Carolina a week after Washington surprisingly released him in the final year of his four-year contract. Pro Football Focus graded Ioannidis as the league’s 38th best interior defensive lineman last year. The Panthers in 2021 had the NFL’s 15th best pass rush and 27th best run defense, per PFF.

Ioannidis was in the final year of a four-year contract. His release saves the Commanders $6.88 million. Entering his age-28 season, Ioannidis should land another starting gig soon. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ 38th interior defensive lineman in 2021, logging 608 snaps for Washington. The Commanders need to free up cap space after agreeing to take on all $28 million of Carson Wentz’s 2022 cap hit.

Ioannidis will likely miss Week 15 against the Eagles and look to return for Week 16 against the Cowboys. Washington’s defensive line is usually the strength of their defense, but they have placed 11 players on the Covid list, and more could be on the way. Coming off a disastrous outing against the Cowboys in Week 14, Washington could be extremely shorthanded against their divisional rivals over the next two weeks.

Ioannidis practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, but he missed Friday’s practice with a knee injury and is unable to go today. Given the abundance of talent Washington has on their defensive line, it’s a difficult matchup for Buffalo regardless.

It should be a season-ender for the 26-year-old. It’s not a season-wrecker for Washington’s defensive line, but Ioannidis provides 40-50 quality weekly snaps. It’s also early to have to dip into depth. Tim Settle seems to be the next man up. Ioannidis is signed through 2022. Scheduled to make $5.35 million next season, Ioannidis should be back, but the 2021 cap is going to cause all sorts of complications for teams coming off the COVID year.

Said injury would likely knock Ioannidis out for the rest of the season. The issue is that rookie phenom Chase Young also suffered a groin injury and was forced to exit Sunday’s game against Cleveland. Expect reserve DT Tim Settle to get rotational run moving forward.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Ioannidis can earn another $3 million in incentives. The 2016 fifth-round pick was entering the final year of his rookie deal. Ioannidis bounced back from a rough rookie campaign which included him being waived to record 12 sacks over the last two seasons including 7.5 last year.

Under GM Scot McCloughan, the Redskins’ roster has gotten good enough to the point they can afford to cut a fifth-round pick when he gets beaten out. Ioannidis had a sluggish camp and needs to get stronger. He was the 152nd overall pick in May’s draft. The Skins may try to get him on the practice squad.

Ioannidis is built more like an end at 6-foot-4, 299 pounds, but Washington believes he can bulk up to make the transition. The Redskins’ biggest need along the defensive line is at nose, and although a true nose tackle does not play many snaps in today’s NFL, Ioannidis has the skill set to pull double duty in base and sub packages. If he can make the switch, Ioannidis could play a big role as a rookie.

He’s already been ruled out for Week 9, and could miss Week 10. A 2016 fifth-rounder — who was waived and eventually re-signed — Ioannidis has played 237 effective snaps this season, ringing up 3.5 sacks.