Commanders links
Articles
Washington Post (paywall)
The Commanders are in deep trouble, and ‘nobody’s coming to help’
The Commanders looked like a team falling apart in a 44-22 blowout loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. Mariota was on the field because starter Jayden Daniels had gone down with a right
hamstring injury earlier in the quarter.
[T]heir upcoming opponents are among the NFL’s best: next Monday night at the Kansas City Chiefs (4-3), Nov. 2 vs. the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) and Nov. 9 vs. the Detroit Lions (4-2).
The Commanders have four starters on injured reserve. It’s unclear when starting wide receivers Terry McLaurin (quad) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) will return, and defensive end Dorance Armstrong was knocked out with a knee injury in the first quarter Sunday. A team can overcome only so many injuries, even if players and coaches continue to take up the “next man up” cliché.
While the offense had its issues, Washington’s biggest problem was its defense. By halftime, the Cowboys already had racked up 27 points and were averaging 7.9 yards per play. They finished with 409 yards and put together seven scoring drives. The Commanders couldn’t tackle, cover, rush the passer, take the ball away or get off the field.
After Armstrong went out, the Commanders were left with an edge rotation of just three players: 32-year-old Preston Smith, 36-year-old Von Miller and role player Jacob Martin.
Although this was the defense’s worst performance of the season, it’s closer to the norm than an anomaly for Washington.
“Nobody’s coming to help,” safety Jeremy Reaves said. “You got to save yourself.”
Washington Post (paywall)
Jayden Daniels dodges serious injury, but Dorance Armstrong is done
Quinn said an MRI exam Monday revealed Daniels’s injury is “not significant or long term,” though his availability for next week’s next Monday night game at the Kansas City Chiefs is unclear.
After an injury-ravaged start to the season, the Commanders will certainly take whatever positive news they can. The loss of Armstrong, though, is a massive blow at a position where Washington already had been decimated by injuries.
Armstrong, 28, was having a career season, blossoming into the anchor of what has quietly been one of the better pass rushes in the NFL. Despite missing portions of the past two games, he entered Monday night’s games tied for sixth in the league in sacks and tackles for a loss (seven). He also had a pressure rate of 16.8 percent, which ranked 13th among players with at least 100 snaps as a pass rusher, according to TruMedia.
Armstrong is the third defensive end to suffer a severe or season-ending injury in the Commanders’ first seven games. Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in Week 2. His replacement, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, has been on injured reserve since Week 5 with a torn pectoral muscle.
The Athletic (paywall)
No, Jayden Daniels isn’t on the path to becoming Washington’s next RGIII
Despite the growing collection of highlights that Daniels — the No. 2 pick of the 2024 draft and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year — has delivered in the last season and a half, every stumble, bump and bruise sparks panic in the mind of Washington fans. “No, not again,” they shriek in fear that Daniels is headed down the same path as Griffin, who, after blowing out his knee at the end of his rookie season, never recaptured his superhero form.
Sunday’s fan-driven angst over what turned out was a hamstring injury — and nothing believed to be “significant” or “long term” for Daniels — inspired Daniels’ mother to take to social media to plead for understanding.
“I wish you would stop manifesting RGIII on my son,” Regina Jackson posted on X. “Words are powerful and that’s all that’s talked about.”
The trauma suffered by this fan base during Daniel Snyder’s 24 years as owner is real. On his way out, the NFL truly should have required Snyder to pay for therapy sessions for every burgundy-and-gold-loving DMV resident. But since they didn’t, and because those bills aren’t cheap, here’s a therapy session on me.
But history isn’t repeating itself . Yes, there are similarities: They’re both Black, can run, were Heisman Trophy winners drafted No. 2 overall, have a visible parent and led their teams to the playoffs as rookies after the teams finished last in the NFC East the previous season.
But the circumstances surrounding Griffin and Daniels greatly differ as well. Given the dramatic differences between the way Snyder and Josh Harris run football teams, it’s almost like they have played for different organizations.
Far more than a bum knee caused the RGIII era to go up in flames, and it’ll take a lot more than a knee sprain, bruised ribs or hamstring strain to disrupt Daniels’ trajectory.
In some ways, given his mental makeup as he entered the NFL and all of the dysfunction that plagued the organization, you can make the argument that Griffin may never have truly had a chance. The same doesn’t apply to Daniels.
Unity, patience and professionalism prevail within D.C.’s beloved football team nowadays. The powers that be understand the investment made in Daniels, and that the long term far outweighs the short term. Because of that, Daniels has a chance. Even if he has to miss more games than anyone would prefer and more losses than expected pile up, his future will remain intact.
Commanders.com
5 takeaways from Washington’s loss to Dallas
Another slow start offensively.
Slow starts have been one of the lingering issues for the Commanders this season, and that was the case once again at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys and their No. 1 ranked offense opened the game exactly as many thought they would. They zoomed down the field, helped in large part by a pass interference call on Marshon Lattimore at the Commanders’ 2-yard line. Javonte Williams plowed through the defensive front for a two-yard score, putting the Cowboys up 7-0.
The Commanders, meanwhile, had far less success with their offense. They were stopped short on third down and looked like they were about to try for a fourth-down conversion at their own 46-yard line before a false start moved them back and forced a punt. The penalty resulted in a gain of just two yards to start the game.
Part of the Commanders’ issues offensively have come from their habit of getting into deficits early in games. They have now started six of their seven games with a punt or turnover and have been outscored 53-22 in the first quarter. The hope is that will improve when their injured players return, but it’s certainly a dire circumstance as they prepare to face three of the league’s best teams in consecutive weeks.
Commanders.com
Final thoughts | The Dallas debacle
— Quinn thought the game “really took a turn” at the end of the first half, when the Cowboys scored a touchdown on a four-play drive that included a 44-yard and 33-yard play from Dallas’ offense. Quinn expressed his displeasure with the series immediately following the game, saying, “Words cannot express” how upset he was in the locker room.
— Quinn was pleased with how guard Sam Cosmi performed in his season debut. Cosmi, who missed the first six games recovering from a knee injury, only had one mental error that came during pass protection. Quinn expected that to happen and said that it would be smoothed out with more reps.
— The Commanders are in a tough spot at this point in the season. They have a difficult slate of games coming up next; injuries are hampering the roster; and the team is, to use his words, off course in terms of their identity and standard. Quinn has leaned on the team’s culture since he arrived in Washington, and that isn’t going to change with the team going through a rough patch.
A to Z Sports
One drive by the Dallas offense should be the final straw for a drastic change after embarrassing loss to Cowboys
Jayden Daniels led the short-handed offense down the field for a touchdown to make it a 20-15 game, with the Commanders getting the ball back in the second half. All the defense had to do was get a stop in the last 45 seconds of the half, but they couldn’t even do that.
Dak Prescott hit George Pickens for a 44-yard bomb against Marshon Lattimore. The Cowboys followed it up with a 33-yard run by Javonte Williams, who dragged Quan Martin for 10 yards to the two-yard line. Prescott ended the drive with a wide-open touchdown to Jake Ferguson to extend the lead to 27-15 with 10 seconds left.
The offense did its job, and a 35-second drive for a touchdown should be the last nail in the coffin before jobs are lost and players are benched. The defense has allowed the same explosive plays all season, and no adjustments have been made. Lattimore should be benched with Jonathan Jones back from his injury, and an honest conversation needs to be had about defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.
He’s doing what he can with what he has, but the lack of changes is inexcusable. We continue to see the same players making mistakes, and none of the younger linebackers get a real chance to show what they have, as linebacker Bobby Wagner continues to struggle in obvious passing situations.
Commanders Wire
Quick facts and numbers from the Washington Commanders’ Week 7 loss to the Cowboys
- The Commanders achieved only 5.3 yards per pass attempt, completing only 50 percent of their attempts (16-32), in addition to being sacked four times today.
- The Commanders killed themselves on Sunday with 11 penalties for 118 yards and turning the ball over twice, while also not creating any takeaways — again.
- The Cowboys crowded the line of scrimmage, taking away Jacory Croskey-Merritt. He only gained 33 yards on 13 carries (2.5 per carry) with a long of only nine yards. Yet, Jayden Daniels could not take advantage through the air. He missed a few open receivers himself, and then Jaylin Lane and Zach Ertz both had big drops in the first half as well.
- The longest run by a Commanders running back was 19 yards by Jeremy McNichols. When the game was already out of hand, Marcus Mariota had the Commanders’ longest run of 25 yards.
- The Commanders’ four losses are all to NFC teams: Packers, Falcons, Bears, and Cowboys.
- WR Robbie Chosen, elevated from the practice squad, led the Commanders with four receptions for 36 yards with a long of 9 yards. Chris Moore had the long reception for Washington of 44 yards.
- DT Daron Payne deflected three passes, including two on consecutive plays. Payne’s safety was Washington’s first safety since Payne’s safety in 2022 against the Eagles.
- Commanders’ DE Dorance Armstrong could not practice this week, yet was allowed to give it a try and was injured immediately. Who made the decision to have Armstrong active? Why wasn’t he listed as out?
- This was the fifth game in seven this season where the Commanders failed to produce a takeaway.Sunday was the fifth game in seven that the Commanders gave up a score on their first defensive series.
- During the broadcast, this embarrassing stat was provided by Fox: Dak Prescott’s career at home against Washington: 20-0 TD/INT ratio and a 6-0 record.
Heavy.com
Robbie Chosen : Lands back on practice squad
Chosen reverted to Washington’s practice squad Monday, per the NFL’s transaction log. Chosen got his first chance of the campaign to log action on gameday this past Sunday versus Dallas and played 33 of 67 offensive snaps to rank fourth among Commanders wideouts. He caught all four of his targets for 36 yards, with the reception total leading all Washington players. Chosen’s opportunity came as a result of Washington’s wideout corps being depleted by injuries — each of Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), Deebo Samuel (heel) and Noah Brown (groin, IR) was unable to play. Chosen’s path to additional opportunity likely depends on when the team’s injured wideouts are able to return.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders should call Tyler Lockett after his mutually-agreed departure from the Titans
While Burks and Chosen could help, there is just no telling for sure. The Commanders shouldn’t stop looking to upgrade, and there is an eye-catching insurance policy that has just become available.
According to Adam Schefter from ESPN, Tyler Lockett has asked for and been granted his release from the Titans. The move to Tennessee didn’t pay off, and the pass-catcher clearly didn’t want to spend the whole season on a bottom-feeder that’s already fired its head coach.
Lockett is reportedly free to sign with another club after 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. He was never a good fit in Tennessee, but there should be interest in the 33-year-old. And the Commanders could do far worse than examine his credentials in greater detail.
The former Kansas State standout should be sharp enough to help immediately. Lockett’s traits look well-suited to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s schematic concepts. He’s also the sort of experienced presence general manager Adam Peters has sought throughout his recent recruitment.
More importantly, this represents a chance for Lockett to get on the field immediately. The Commanders might be in a slump, but there is still time to turn things around. At the same time, the 2015 third-round pick could be looking for a team with more legitimate chances to contend.
Podcasts & videos
NFL Week 7 Recap: Commanders Defeated by Cowboys 44-22 | Booth Review | Washington Commanders | NFL
NFC East links
Big Blue View
New York Giants retain DC Shane Bowen despite defensive meltdown vs. Broncos
One day after a historic defensive meltdown, giving up 33 fourth-quarter points in a 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants will not fire defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
Head coach Brian Daboll said during his Zoom call with reporters Monday afternoon that he was “not considering” any changes to the coaching staff after the Giants fell to 2-5 while becoming the first team in more than 1,600 NFL games to lose a game in which it led by 18 or more points with less than six minutes to play.
“No, I’m not considering that,” Daboll said. “But we all got to do a better job, starts with me. And there’s plenty of opportunities to finish that game the way we wanted to and we didn’t get the job done.”
Sunday was the second time this season Bowen has been criticized for calling a scheme that did not pressure the quarterback with a game on the line at the end of the fourth quarter. The first was in Week 2 when the Giants allowed the Dallas Cowboys to get into position for a game-tying 64-yard field goal by Brandon Aubry at the end of regulation. New York lost that game in overtime.
“I would have liked to have a different call,” Bowen said after that game.
The call was somewhat different this time, but still involved not pressuring Denver quarterback Bo Nix.
Bowen, though, will apparently continue to get chances to make things right.
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson set a new career high during Sunday’s win against Washington
Ferguson’s second touchdown gave him six on the season which is good for a career high. Ferguson had a pair of scores during his rookie season of 2022, and had five the next year when everything was working for Dallas in 2023.
With Ferguson having six touchdowns through only seven games this season, he only needs one more score to match his career total prior to this season.
Pro Football Rumors
Brandon Graham To Re-Sign With Eagles
A potential Eagles reunion has seemingly been in the cards since the defender announced his retirement this past offseason. After Graham left the door open to a potential return, there appeared to be growing momentum towards a move yesterday, when we learned that the player had discussed a potential deal with the organization. As Florio notes, the main hurdle to overcome was “an acceptable contract,” which the two sides apparently figured out in short order.
While the 2025 campaign will represent Graham’s age-37 season, this reunion is more than needed for the Eagles. The team has only generated 11 sacks this season, and the recent retirement of Za’Darius Smith has only further depleted their pass-rush corps. Besides filling in the leadership gap that Smith left behind, Graham should also help pick up some of the production. James Palmer of The Athletic passes along that the Eagles believe the veteran was the best pass-rusher on their squad in 2024.
Of course, expectations have to be somewhat tempered following a 2024 campaign when Graham was getting into less than half of his team’s defensive snaps before he suffered a season-ending triceps injury (he returned in time for the Super Bowl, when he re-tore his triceps). Considering that injury and his lack of a training camp/preseason, it seems unlikely that Graham will be able to contribute right away.
However, when Graham is ready to play, the Eagles will surely be plenty reliant on the familiar face.
Graham hasn’t been a full-time player since the 2020 season, although that didn’t stop him from compiling 11 sacks during the 2022 campaign. He collected a combined 6.5 sacks between 2023 and 2024, and he appeared in pair of playoff games during that same span.
Upcoming opponent
NFL.com
Six simple truths heading into NFL Week 8: Chiefs’ offense meeting expectations again
The Chiefs’ offense is finally meeting expectations again. It’s been nearly three years since we could say that about Kansas City. This offense went from being electric in the early days of the partnership between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid to being fairly pedestrian in 2023 and ’24. The contributing factors were obvious — inconsistency and injuries at receiver coupled with offensive line woes — but the Chiefs finally are back to being scary on that side of the ball.
This team has scored over 30 points in three of its last four games, including a 31-0 bashing of Las Vegas on Sunday. To put that into perspective, Kansas City hit the 30-point mark only six times in the previous two seasons combined (including the postseason). The difference today is substantial. The offensive line is sturdier, for one thing. Even with the mysterious absence of rookie left tackle Josh Simmons over the last two games, the Chiefs are giving Mahomes more protection than he’s had in a long time.
Mahomes also finally has his full assortment of weapons together, as wide receiver Rashee Rice returned from a six-game suspension this week and second-year receiver Xavier Worthy has looked crisp since missing nearly three full games with a shoulder separation. Kansas City could only muster a total of 60 combined points in its first three games with those two out. They’ve been rolling ever since, and the rest of the AFC is officially on notice.
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Lions knock Bucs out of first behind Jahmyr Gibbs’ big night
Gibbs was spectacular, totaling 218 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as the Lions continue to make a case as the NFL’s best following a loss
Gibbs broke free up the middle for the longest run of his NFL career with a 78-yard touchdown with 5:51 left in the first half. Gibbs’ top speed was 22.2 mph, the fastest rushing TD by an offensive ball carrier this season, per Next Gen Stats. He is the only player over the past three seasons to reach 22 mph on a rushing touchdown, and he has done it twice now, including on a 70-yard touchdown versus the Titans in 2024.
NFL.com
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans to miss most of remainder of season with broken clavicle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a broken clavicle and is going to miss most of the remainder of the 2025 season, head coach Todd Bowles announced Monday night.
“He’ll be out mostly toward the end of the year,” Bowles said. “We’ll see what happens.”
It’s hardly a detailed diagnosis, but it’s devastating news for Evans and the Buccaneers (5-2) regardless with Evans out for the foreseeable future and perhaps the remainder of the regular season. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport noted that a typical timeline for a return from a broken clavicle would be six to eight weeks, which could potentially lead to a December return. So, while Evans’ remarkable career-long streak of 1,000-yard campaigns has concluded, he could be back for a playoff berth.
Evans was carted to the locker room during Monday’s loss to the Detroit Lions after suffering a concussion and what was announced as a shoulder injury that led to him quickly being ruled out of the game.
ESPN
Seattle Seahawks’ defense dominates Houston Texans in win
[T]he Seahawks took care of business at Lumen Field, beating the Houston Texans 27-19. The Seahawks’ defense held Houston to 254 yards and sacked C.J. Stroud three times, helping them overcome four turnovers. Meanwhile, Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a touchdown pass while running back Zach Charbonnet ran for two more scores.
Sam Darnold has done an excellent job this season of avoiding sacks and negative plays in general, but he didn’t do that Monday night. With the Seahawks backed up near their own goal line in the third quarter, he tried to retreat in the end zone with the pocket collapsing in front of him, leading to a strip sack by Will Anderson Jr. that the Houston edge rusher recovered in the end zone. Darnold was sacked another time and threw an interception in the fourth quarter, making it an atypical performance for a quarterback who had entered the contest ranked third in Total QBR. Darnold completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards and a scoring strike to Smith-Njigba.
Discussion topics
Front Office Sports
Saudi Arabia Wants to Bring American Football to the Middle East
As Saudi Arabia continues to explore investing more money into sports, it’s clear that one of the country’s biggest targets moving forward is American football.
Hosting a game, college or NFL, would mark a major step for Saudi Arabia’s American football ambitions.
The NFL is eyeing expansion of its international slate to 16 games per season (up from a record seven this year) by the end of the decade. A logical first step for Saudi Arabia would be entering the NFL’s Global Markets Program. This spring, the United Arab Emirates became the first Middle Eastern nation to participate in the program, becoming a designated market territory for the 49ers, Commanders, and Rams.
The Bahamas Bowl is currently the only postseason college football game played outside the U.S. But Ireland has had success hosting regular-season kickoff games, and Michigan is in discussions about moving its 2026 season opener against Western Michigan to Germany.
Bringing a major American football event to Saudi Arabia would add to the country’s sports portfolio.
