Dorance Armstrong Reappears Like a Ghost on the Dallas Cowboys' Path

The Washington Commanders have received a boost ahead of their upcoming Dallas Cowboys matchup, with defensive end Dorance Armstrong reinstated after serving a one-game suspension following the season opener.

Armstrong 's return comes just in time for the Commanders ' meeting with his former team, with the defensive end now available after missing the opening game of the 2026 campaign while serving his league-imposed ban.

KPRC 2 Houston reporter and NFL insider Aaron Wilson announced Armstrong's reinstatement from suspension on September 16 through X.com, formerly known as Twitter.

“#NFL lifts #Commanders Dorance Armstrong suspension,” Wilson wrote, offering relief to the defensive end, who had been suspended from August 30 after violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Armstrong's suspension followed his May 2025 arrest in Frisco, Texas. ESPN reported that he faced misdemeanor charges involving bodily harm and resisting arrest or a search of his vehicle following the incident.

The former Cowboys defender received deferred adjudication for both charges and nine months of probation. The NFL then issued a one-game suspension, which cost Armstrong $507,500 in salary and bonus money.

The ban also delayed his return from a torn ACL suffered during Week 7 of the 2025 season. He had already spent significant time recovering before the suspension ruled him out of the team's opener.

Drafted by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Armstrong spent six seasons with the Cowboys before signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Commanders ahead of 2024.

The defensive end initially remained on the physically unable to perform list, but received clearance on August 7, and he subsequently returned to individual drills as he continued building towards a full comeback.

The Commanders will hope Armstrong can provide an immediate boost against the Cowboys after opening the season with a narrow defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles , and his experience could be particularly useful against his former team.

Across 116 NFL appearances, Armstrong has registered 137 solo tackles, 34 sacks and five forced fumbles. His development was aided by Dan Quinn , who later became the Commanders ' head coach.

Armstrong can rush from the edge with his hand in the dirt or move inside during sub-packages, potentially allowing Washington to deploy other pass rushers such as Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson around him.

Stefon Diggs penalised for touchdown celebration

Meanwhile, the Commanders ’ opener also featured an unwanted moment involving Stefon Diggs , whose touchdown celebration brought a 15-yard penalty as the receiver climbed onto the goalpost padding after scoring against the Eagles .

After a quiet opening period, Diggs found more involvement during the fourth quarter before creating separation and scoring in the red zone his touchdown briefly gave Washington hope of victory.

But as Diggs jumped onto the goalpost padding and embraced it, the team collected a 15-yard penalty in accordance with the NFL ’s rules and the infraction moved the Commanders out of two-point conversion range.

Diggs had already experienced the same punishment back in 2017 playing against Washington , as he hugged the goalpost after scoring and was subsequently fined $12,154 by the NFL.

"That was a little bit out of frustration throughout the game," Diggs admitted. "[I] wanted things to go right and finally, we hit one. I get a little overzealous, I get a little excited. Of course, I take full accountability."

Although Diggs later accepted responsibility for the mistake, for the Commanders , the incident became another frustrating detail from a narrow opening-day defeat.