Maryland court rules in favor of Washington Commanders player in workers' compensation case

The Appellate Court for Maryland has granted summary judgment in favor of former Washington Commanders defensive tackle Curtis Brooks in a workers’ compensation dispute. The ruling follows a previous decision by a Prince Georges County circuit court that reversed an earlier denial by the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (MWCC).

Brooks filed the claim after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon at the team’s training facility in Virginia, only three days after signing with the team. While the MWCC initially ruled that Brooks was not a covered employee under Maryland law, the appellate court determined that a professional football player can be considered a covered employee if they expect to be “regularly employed” in Maryland, even if they have not physically completed job duties within the state.

The Washington Commanders, officially Pro-Football LLC, is a Maryland-based company that plays home games in Landover, Maryland, while maintaining training facilities in Ashburn, Virginia.