The Washington Commanders signed defensive tackle Ricky Barber to the active roster on Wednesday after placing two starting defensive tackles on injured reserve with season-ending injuries.
Washington announced the move along with the addition of defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale to the practice squad. The transactions give the team additional interior depth ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne both landed on injured reserve this week. Kinlaw underwent season-ending surgery to repair an MCL injury sustained in the Week 6 loss at San Francisco. Payne suffered a Jones fracture in his foot during a light practice session last Friday, an injury described as a fluke that ends his season.
The Commanders entered the week at 2-4-1. They host the 4-4 Rams at Northwest Stadium on Sunday.
Barber, 25, originally signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2025 out of UCF. He appeared in two games that season and recorded five tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack. He has not played in a regular-season game yet this year.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, Barber began his college career at Western Kentucky before transferring to UCF. He finished with 195 career tackles and 15 sacks across six seasons. He earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2022 after starting all 14 games and posting 49 tackles.
Washington waived Barber in September as part of early-season roster moves and quickly returned him to the practice squad. He had signed a reserve/futures contract with the team in January after spending most of his rookie year on the practice squad.
Kinlaw had started 23 consecutive games for the Commanders before the knee injury. He recorded 13 tackles and one sack in six games this season. Payne, a longtime Washington defensive tackle, had been a regular contributor along the front.
Ekuale, a veteran with previous stops including the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, joins the practice squad after a recent workout with the team. He started 16 games for the Patriots in 2024 and posted 52 combined tackles.
The Commanders’ defensive line now features players such as Tim Settle and Shy Tuttle in expanded roles. Jer’Zhan Newton has been designated to return from injured reserve but has not yet been activated.
Barber’s limited NFL experience includes just 32 defensive snaps in 2025. Those snaps came across two games and produced the five tackles and single sack. College production provides the bulk of his background as Washington looks for immediate depth.
The team placed running back Jeremy McNichols on injured reserve as well this week after a foot injury. That leaves Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler as the primary active backs.
Washington’s next two games after the Rams are a Thursday night matchup at the New York Giants and a home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The interior defensive line will be tested throughout that stretch without Kinlaw and Payne.
Barber’s path from undrafted free agent to active roster reflects the Commanders’ need to fill gaps created by the two season-ending losses. Ekuale’s practice squad addition provides another option if further elevations become necessary.
The Commanders have not indicated an expected snap share for Barber. His promotion ensures the team has an additional body on the 53-man roster for the Rams game.
