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Game status | Laremy Tunsil ruled out vs. Eagles
Tunsil’s absence means that Brandon Coleman, who stepped in for Tunsil last weekend, will likely get the start at left tackle — a position he held throughout his rookie season. Coleman had
one of his best games of the season, according to Pro Football Focus, particularly as a pass protector. He allowed zero pressures on 14 pass blocking plays and earned a grade of 86.4 — his highest of the season.
Coleman was originally the team’s starting left guard before being replaced by Chris Paul early in the season. Quinn thought Coleman was ready for the moment to get back in the lineup, and he’s seen the second-year offensive lineman stand out in recent weeks.
A to Z Sports
The Commanders get to see what the future of the roster could look like with EDGE rusher Drake Jackson making his debut in Washington
The Commanders have been waiting for Drake Jackson to get healthy so he can show what his potential on the roster could look like. After two long months, he will finally be making his debut in Washington.
The Washington Commanders still have three games left, and there are plenty of things they need to see, despite their 4-10 record on the season.
The first test is against the Philadelphia Eagles at home, and they need to see the team show up after an ugly win last week against the New York Giants. The Commanders need to see the youth of the roster play well, and head coach Dan Quinn needs to actually play them as well.
Quinn announced on Thursday that one in-season free agent signing will finally be making his debut, which can turn into a real roster win if he plays well and stays healthy.
Jackson decided to sign with the Commanders back in mid-October, with offers from many other teams, and now the Commanders get to see if he can be a piece of the defense moving forward. The Commanders also need a youth movement on the team, and Jackson could help with that at just 24 years old. Jackson was a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft and has the potential to be a great player if he can stay healthy.
He has six career sacks in the 23 games he’s played in, but he’s been out since late 2023 with his knee injury. The 49ers decided to move on, and now the Commanders are hoping for a roster win with Jackson.
Defensive end is the biggest need on defense right now, especially after Deatrich Wise and Dorance Armstrong both suffered season-ending injuries, and could miss substantial time to start the 2026 season.
Whether it’s in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft, Peters has to actually address the position this offseason and get a difference maker. At 6-4, 273 pounds, Jackson would be an every-down player while Jacob Martin and Von Miller could rotate in if they return.
Commanders.com
3 keys to Commanders vs. Eagles
3. Challenge Adoree Jackson.
Quinyon Mitchell is playing like one of the best cornerbacks in the league this season. He’s allowed just 10 receptions for 99 yards in man coverage with a passer rating of just 61.4. He and Terry McLaurin battled hard last season, and it’s likely that the two will see plenty of each other on Saturday.
Jackson, on the other hand, has not been as effective. His 57.7 cover grade is the second lowest of his career, and he’s allowed quarterbacks to complete 60.3% of their passes when they target him. Although the Commanders could lean heavily on their running backs this weekend, Jackson could be a player they try to take advantage of.
Heavy.com
Eddie Goldman : Ruled out with concussion
Goldman (concussion) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday’s game against the Eagles, Ben Selby of the Commanders’ official site reports. Goldman suffered a concussion in last Sunday’s win over the Giants and was unable to practice all week. The defensive tackle’s absence, combined with Jer’Zhan Newton’s (illness) questionable status, leaves Sheldon Day as the only surefire depth option at the position for Saturday’s contest.
Riggo’s Rag
5 Commanders quietly giving fans something to believe in down the stretch
Laremy Tunsil – Commanders OT
The Commanders recognized they had finally found their answer at the quarterback position after Jayden Daniels’ phenomenal rookie season. Adam Peters needed to protect this investment, and he kicked this off by making a daring trade for prolific left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Nobody needs to be reminded of Tunsil’s credentials. There are few better around the league at keeping the blindside free of pressure. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler and a highly consistent performer. The Commanders had to pay a premium to secure his services, but he’s been worth all that and more during his first season with the franchise.
Tunsil has been a revelation. His pass protection is nothing short of extraordinary. His run blocking is dominant, with opposing edge defenders finding life extremely tough when the Ole Miss product generates early leverage. He’s also emerging as a leader, mentoring rookie Josh Conerly Jr. through his rollercoaster rookie season with supreme success.
This is the franchise left tackle Washington has craved since Trent Williams was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Tunsil will be after a massive contract extension this offseason, which could go to $30 million per year or beyond. Peters would be wise to pay up accordingly to keep this cornerstone piece around for the remainder of his career.
Riggo’s Rag
Brian Mitchell doesn’t believe the Commanders should bring back Noah Brown in 2026
Mitchell laid out Brown’s situation perfectly. He came into the club with injury concerns, and they’ve reared their head almost constantly. Now is the perfect time to look elsewhere. The Commanders have no other option, given how things have unfolded.
“I know you can’t [keep him around]. He came in here with that reputation. He was injured a good bit last year. He got injured, basically, most of this year. You can’t roll those dice anymore. You got snake eyes in three.”
ESPN
NFL Week 16 picks, predictions, schedule, odds, fantasy tips
Eagles (9-5) at Commanders (4-10)
Saturday, 5 p.m. ET | Fox | PHI -7 (44.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Eagles: Coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense has turned it up since Philadelphia’s Week 9 bye, ranking first in opponent completion percentage (51.5%), second in opponent passer rating (67.2) and third in points allowed per game (14.3). Philadelphia limited Las Vegas to 75 total yards last week, marking the fewest yards allowed by a team since 2023. Fangio gave the offense a good bit of the credit in the shutout, noting that it moved the ball and got the run game going. “Anytime you have a game like that, usually the whole team contributes,” he said. Clock-draining drives on offense coupled with this dominant defense is a winning formula. — Tim McManus
What we’re hearing on the Commanders: If Washington wants to upset the Eagles, it must start with its run game. Washington started the season strong in this area, ranking first in rushing yards after five weeks — partly because of its QB runs. The Commanders have rushed for at least 145 yards in four of their past six games — a result of playing in closer matchups, but also due to strong blocking from the tight ends and offensive line. Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is coming off a 96-yard game in which half his yards came after first contact. Chris Rodriguez Jr. will be used for his power. Both need to improve in the passing game, but coach Dan Quinn said, “I like the combination of the two. They’re different in size, but both of them have an aggressive style and so they can break tackles.” — John Keim
What’s at stake: The Eagles can clinch the NFC East with a win or a Cowboys loss. Philadelphia could be the first repeat champion of the NFC East in 20 seasons. See Playoff Machine. — ESPN Research
Betting nugget: The Commanders are 4-1 ATS (against the spread) in the past five meetings (overs: 4-1). Read more. — ESPN Research
Commanders Wire
For the Commanders, the pass rush is more than just sack numbers
Quinn continued regarding rushing the passer, “So often in pass force can I beat somebody to the punch, you know, the speed, the disruption to go. Sometimes that’s from a blitz where you can overload a side or a running back with the right matchup, but if it’s a four-man (rush) you got to go win and you got to jump off the ball and beat somebody to the spot even if you’re not sacking them.”
“I think maybe the clearest example of that at the end of the first half [OLB] Von [Miller] had a good pressure. He wasn’t able to sack [New York Giants Quarterback Jaxson] Dart on the play, he got them on the next one, but the scramble was an incomplete, so those are the plays that I look for as well. They don’t show up as much on the stat sheet, but they’re super important.
Indeed, the Commanders will want to see if they can provide a controlled rush that keeps Hurts from getting outside the pocket, keeping him inside of it, and forcing him to beat the Commanders by throwing the ball from the pocket.
ESPN
Commanders LB Bobby Wagner graduating with MBA from Howard
Wagner finished his coursework for an MBA in business at Howard University last week, where he’ll graduate in May. He started the 18-month program in January 2024 — but Wagner said he loaded up on classes this summer to avoid taking them in the spring.
Wagner noted that 90% of the work was online but that he also attended classes in person this summer.
He was involved in business ventures such as becoming a minority investor in the WNBA’s Seattle Storm this summer, and he wanted people to know he was serious about business, which is why he sought the degree.
“Sometimes when you come from playing football and go into the business world,” he said, “a lot of people feel like the reason why you’re able to get into those spaces is because of people that you know and they feel like we skip steps or they feel like we haven’t done the work.
“I’ve done the work through challenging times that most people wouldn’t have done.”
“From the outside world, if you do something else, then they feel like you’re not focused,” Wagner said. “And then when you retire and don’t have nothing going on, they’re like, ‘Why you didn’t do something else?’ And so you can’t really listen to what people saying because they’re not you at the end of your career and trying to figure stuff out. I’m trying to break that concept.
“You can master the field you’re in and also learn and study other things.”
Besides, he said, “guys play video games and stuff during the season. I just choose to learn.”
In Washington’s last three games, Wagner needs just 25 more tackles to become the third NFL player to reach 2,000 in his career, joining former linebackers Ray Lewis and London Fletcher.
NFL.com
NFL Week 16 picks: Upset and score predictions, matchup analysis for every game
Why Tom picked the Eagles: I’m going to start with something a little weird, maybe provocative and even a bit upsetting, depending on your point of view, but: This one sort of reminds me of a Browns game. It’s not that either team reminds me of the Browns themselves, who might as well exist in a different universe from Washington or Philly; it’s just that there is exactly one unit I believe in to play at a high level, no matter what else is going on, and it’s the Eagles’ stingy defense (sixth in points allowed, 10th in yards allowed per play, fifth in EPA per play).
Like Myles Garrett and Co., Vic Fangio’s gang is basically guaranteed to be a problem for whoever is lining up on the other side. I don’t feel the same way about Jalen Hurts’ offense or, well, anyone in a Commanders jersey at this moment.
The Eagles have topped 370 yards and 30 points in the same game just twice all season, against the Giants (in Week 8) and Raiders (last Sunday). And going back to Week 10, Philly actually ranks worse (21st) than the Commanders in EPA per play (17th) on offense.
It’s true that the last time I centered a blurb around my belief in the Eagles’ defense, I was burned, back on Black Friday — but Philly’s offense had to completely disappear for the Bears to scratch out that one. Washington figures to be a more forgiving opponent, ranking on the other end of the takeaway spectrum (31st in the NFL) from Chicago (first). I wouldn’t put it past the Commanders to show some spirit, just not enough to dislodge the most reliable difference-makers on the field.
Podcasts & videos
Drama in Philly Showing Up on Film? + Jalen Hurts Deep-Dive | Film Breakdown | Commanders | NFL
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Dallas Morning News
Cowboys CB DaRon Bland may need season-ending foot surgery
Cowboys officials are trying to determine if starting cornerback DaRon Bland needs surgery on his left foot, a person with knowledge of his health told The Dallas Morning News. Another person with knowledge of Bland’s thinking said he’s seeking a second opinion on if he needs surgery.
It isn’t known how Bland suffered the injury, but he missed the second and third games of the season with a foot issue.
Bland underwent surgery on his left foot last season, which caused him to miss the first ten games. Bland returned and played in seven games.
This season, Bland played in 12 games, recording one interception and six pass breakups.
After earning his only All-Pro and Pro Bowl berth in 2023, where he set a NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns and led the league with nine picks, health has become a problem.
The Cowboys have had health problems at the cornerback position all year, from Trevon Diggs (knee and concussion), Shavon Revel (knee), Caelen Carson (knee) and Josh Butler (knee).
Big Blue View
NY Giants head-coaching search: How desirable is the job?
If you want to poke holes in Schoen’s work with the Giants, you don’t need a magnifying glass. Mention his 20-44-1 won-loss record, drop the names Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Neal, and Banks, and throw in what ‘Hard Knocks’ looked like a couple of offseasons ago, toss in the word “placekicker”, and that’s a pretty good start.
Other than the won-loss record, though, everything has nuance. I’m not going to go through chapter and verse of each decision but many were thought to be proper at the time they were made. Still, the results are the results.
One thing Barnwell has wrong, though. Schoen is NOT picking the next coach. He is doing the early leg work to find out who may and may not be interested, and probably handling whatever early vetting goes on before candidates are brought in for interviews once the season ends.
Ownership more or less stepped aside and let Schoen hire his coach — Daboll — in 2022. That is not how Giants ownership has usually done things, and I would venture a guess that Daboll might not have been the choice if John Mara had not allowed his new GM to drive the bus on that decision.
Schoen is not getting that sort of say this time around. Ownership will make this decision. Schoen will have to make it work, if he is still employed. Schoen will have influence, if he still has a key card. So, too, will Tim McDonnell, Mara’s nephew and the team’s Director of Player Personnel, and Chris Mara, John’s brother. Steve Tisch will have his say.
Schoen hired “his” coach once. I can’t imagine the Giants stepping aside and letting him do it again.
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ESPN
Rams’ Nacua dazzles on field, talks about refs again to cap chaotic day
When asked Thursday night whether he believes that referees make calls to be on TV, Nacua said, “No, I don’t.”
“It was just a lack of awareness and just in some frustration,” Nacua said. “I know there were moments where I feel like, man, you watch the other games and you think of the calls that some guys get and you wish you could get some of those, but that’s just how football has played, and I’ll do my job in order to work my technique to make sure that there’s not an issue with the call.”
Nacua said he sent the tweet in “a moment of frustration after a tough, intense game like that.”
When asked what he’s learned from the incidents this week, Nacua said, “Just there is a time and place for some things and there are comments that I should definitely say to the guys in the locker room and to be aware of the situation that we’re in, but then also just to stay and use every moment to prepare for the week.”
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NFL.com
Cam Ward wants to play role in hiring next Titans coach: ‘I want to meet all of them’
The Titans seem to have their quarterback. Next up: Find a head coach.
Rookie signal-caller Cam Ward wants to be involved in the coach-hiring process, the quarterback told reporters Wednesday.
“I want to meet all of them,” Ward said of the next candidates, via ESPN. “Every coach who gets the opportunity to come here, I want to have conversations throughout the process with them. I’m going to be here for that whole time.”
Ward’s willingness to stay in Nashville after a grueling rookie season suggests he’ll become the on-field leader the Titans desperately need. He’s aiming to help them find his headset-wearing equivalent in January. We’ll see if it works.
College Football Playoffs
JMU, Tulane Are CFP Underdogs, Big Winners in Merch Sales
James Madison and Tulane are both huge double-digit underdogs in their respective debut College Football Playoff games on Saturday, but both schools have been experiencing massive demand for merchandise commemorating what could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Online orders for JMU CFP apparel started the evening of Dec. 7, and stock arrived at the store Dec. 10. “It’s really hard to keep on the shelves,” Glenn says. “And our online business has been booming.” He estimates they’ve processed 3,000 orders this week alone, which makes the 288 Sun Belt champions shirts they premade before the Dec. 5 game seem like nothing.
The most popular CFP items are the Nike “Playoff Mode” hoodie with a JMU logo and a T-shirt that includes logos of all 12 teams in this year’s field. Wholesale retailer Blue 84 is making some of the CFP merch, too.
Glenn says his 24,000-square-foot store, which is operated by nationwide college retailer Follett, has had to bring in workers from other nearby campus shops to help with extra shifts. “Some people have been working some long hours,” he says.
