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Source: Commanders signing Treylon Burks to practice squad
The Washington Commanders are signing veteran receiver Treylon Burks to their practice squad, a source confirmed Thursday, hoping a player talented enough to be picked in the first round three years
ago can eventually help a banged-up group.
Tennessee released Burks on Oct. 7 after an injury-filled career with the Titans, who drafted him 18th in 2022. He tore an ACL last year and then fractured his collarbone while making a diving one-handed grab on July 26.
The Commanders need Burks to eventually provide depth.
Commanders.com
Practice notes | Commanders calling on WR depth to step up with McLaurin, Samuel sidelined
Although there was some optimism that the Commanders could get Terry McLaurin — their No. 1 threat in the passing game — back from the quad injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 4, the wideout was downgraded from limited to a non-participant during Thursday’s practice. Deebo Samuel, who has been nursing a heel injury for the past two weeks, has not practiced all week. What’s more, Noah Brown was moved to Injured Reserve after missing the last four games, ensuring he won’t be available for another month.
As a result, the Commanders have been forced to use the pieces and parts left to them. Some, like Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, have proven themselves ready for larger roles; others have yet to be utilized in a meaningful way on offense. They’ll need to keep stepping up if the Commanders hope to tread water against the storm of injuries that has plagued the team all year.
The Commanders entered the season with what they thought was a solid trio at the top of the receiver position. However, the three have rarely been on the field together since Week 2. Samuel has played in every game, but McLaurin only just returned to practice after sustaining his quad injury against the Las Vegas Raiders, and Brown has been unavailable with groin and knee injuries.
Samuel has played well in their absence with 315 receiving yards and four total touchdowns, although the team has been cautious with him while he deals with his heel injury. He was on the field for 72.3% of the offensive snaps against the Chicago Bears but only had 14 total yards in the loss.
There’s a possibility that the Commanders will be without McLaurin or Samuel against the Cowboys. So, who could step up in their place? McCaffrey could be at the top of the list.
Commanders Wire
Kliff Kingsbury gets real about Commanders’ offensive issues
The Commanders’ offense, which was leading the NFL coming into the Week 6 game against the Bears, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, managed to generate only 61 yards in 17 carries for Jacory Croskey-Merritt. When Jayden Daniels attempted run plays, the Bears shut those down as well. Daniels’ rushing for 52 yards was a result of his breaking free on a broken pass play for good yardage a few times.
Kingsbury is not making excuses. His offense was so limited due to injuries to receivers; the Bears clearly crowded the line of scrimmage. The Bears slowed down the run game and pressured Daniels too often, as receivers could not get open.
Washington Post (paywall)
Big plays are killing the Commanders — and here come the Cowboys
Joe Whitt Jr. could only watch from the press box Monday night as safety Quan Martin whiffed on an arm tackle along the sideline. The Washington Commanders defensive coordinator didn’t feel “helpless,” he said. But there was nothing he could do in that moment.
“We have to do a better job of it,” Whitt said Thursday.
The “it” in this case was tackling. Martin’s miss turned what should have been an eight-yard completion to Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift into a 55-yard score.
For the Commanders’ defense more broadly, “it” also means limiting the explosive plays.
In the early part of the Commanders’ season, those explosive plays have often been the ugly warts on otherwise solid performances. The Commanders have allowed 46 of them — 32 through the air and 14 on the ground. And while each has been slightly different, with its own frustrations and explanations, there have been some themes, too.
Asked whether the explosive plays have generally stemmed from scheme or execution, Whitt pointed to the latter.
Of the 31 drives in which the opposing offense has hit one or more explosives, about 70 percent have resulted in either a touchdown or field goal.
Heavy.com
Eddie Goldman : No longer under the weather
Goldman (illness) was not listed on Thursday’s injury report. Goldman was unable to play against the Bears on Monday due to an illness, but his absence from Thursday’s injury report indicates that he is on track to play against the Cowboys on Sunday. Goldman has worked in a rotational role on the Commanders’ defensive line in 2025 and has seven tackles (two solo) through five regular-season games.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders must consider another blockbuster wide receiver trade before the deadline
Noah Brown finally went to injured reserve after getting hurt in Week 2. Terry McLaurin has missed three games, with a potential fourth on the way this weekend against the Dallas Cowboys. Deebo Samuel Sr.’s heel injury is causing him discomfort. He hasn’t been absent from a contest yet, but that might be arriving soon.
The Commanders have three healthy wideouts on the active roster — Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore, and fourth-round rookie Jaylin Lane. Five are now on the practice squad, but Tay Martin can’t be called up unless he’s signed formally. Robbie Chosen, the undrafted duo of Ja’Corey Brooks and Jacoby Jones, and recent acquisition Treylon Burks are the others.
It’s time for Peters to think outside the box. He cannot afford to let the Commanders’ momentum slip after their remarkable accomplishments during the previous campaign. He must consider making another bold trade for a wide receiver who can help immediately.
That is not ideal, but it needs to be discussed in the front office. Tankathon projects the Commanders to have seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. It would have to be the right deal, but a few teams are reportedly considering disposing of some assets as they plan for the future.
Podcasts & videos
Johnny Newton on Commanders’ D-Line & the Cowboys + Joe Theismann on RFK & Super Bowl | Next Man Up
Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys | Week 7 Game Preview
Dak Prescott will leads Cowboys take down Commanders? – Dan Orlovsky on CeeDee Lamb return
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Blogging the Boys
Washington QB Jayden Daniels next in line for big day vs. Cowboys’ defense
The Cowboys defense currently ranks dead last in the NFL in yards allowed at 412 per game and second to last in points allowed at 30.7 per game. This defense is without a doubt historically bad and have allowed opposing quarterbacks to have an absolute field day each and every week this year.
With the division rival Washington Commanders coming to town this week, their second-year QB looks to be the next in line to have a field day against Dallas’ defense. An argument could be made he’s potentially the best QB they faced so far this season. His dual-threat ability sets him apart and it could be a big problem for Dallas.
It’s no secret the Cowboys have struggled containing dual threat QBs in the past and that this season is no different. Jayden Daniels to date has rushed for 176 yards on 36 attempts. He did miss a couple of games after getting injured on a scrambling attempt, but fully healthy now presents a definite problem for Dallas.
Not only is Daniels a real threat on the ground with his legs, but he also possesses the ability to pile up a lot of receiving yards against the Cowboys best defense, who is currently ranked dead last in the league allowing 269.5 yards per game. That certainly doesn’t bode well for the Cowboys.
This Week 7 matchup between the Cowboys and Commanders shapes up to be one of the high-scoring nature were both Dak Prescott and Jayden Daniels will play the most important part. Sadly, Daniels may have a slight advantage considering Dallas’ defense has yet to prove they can stop anyone this year.
Bleeding Green Nation
Wentz it is, then
NFL safety – the Q Collar
Washington Post (paywall)
Device claims to protect athletes’ brains, but records reveal doubts at FDA
One day this summer, Pat McAfee, the former NFL punter turned ESPN personality, interviewed New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner about his partnership with Q-Collar, the only medical device cleared by the FDA to address football’s brain injury crisis.
“We assumed it was bull—-,” McAfee said. Until, that is, he visited the website of Q30 Innovations, the company behind the Q-Collar, which touts the device as “FDA-cleared and proven to help protect the brain.”
“The science is real,” McAfee said. “Hopefully this is something that helps the next generation.”
A C-shaped piece of springy metal coated in plastic that retails for $199, the Q-Collar is designed to apply pressure to the jugular veins, based on the theory that restricting the flow of blood from the skull limits how much the brain can jostle. “Like a seatbelt for your brain,” as Q30 puts it.
But internal FDA documents show that some of the agency’s reviewers doubted Q-Collar research showed the device offered meaningful protection against brain injury, damage or disease. The agency agreed to clear it, the records show, only after Q30 added language to its owner’s manual stating the device does not prevent concussions and that any claims it protects againstlong-term cognitive problems have “not been demonstrated.”
This language is nowhere to be found in Q30’s promotional materials, raising concerns among some experts in neuroscience and concussion research thatthe company is exaggerating the device’s proven benefits.
This summer, an FDA spokesperson did reply to BMJ for its investigation.
“The clinical study data reviewed by the FDA supported the safety and effectiveness of this device as an aid in the protection of the brain from effects associated with repetitive sub-concussive head impacts. The data do not demonstrate that the device can prevent concussion or serious brain injury,” the spokesperson wrote.
It isn’t unusual for the FDA to sign off on a new medical device with ambiguous evidence that it works.
But those devices must be marketed and promoted with language that doesn’t exaggerate or overstate the device’s limitations in labels the FDA approves.
When Q30 executives began touring the country in the early 2010s, seeking investors and interest in their product, they had a compelling sales pitch: a concussion-prevention device inspired by, of all things, the woodpecker.
“Why doesn’t a woodpecker get a concussion?” Jamison Float, Q30’s vice president of innovation, told the Columbus Dispatch in 2015. “It was that little seed of thought that led to Dr. Dave basically spending a year of his life, and immersing himself in the physiology of the woodpecker.”
A woodpecker can hammer its head into trees millions of times without suffering brain injuries, Float explained, because it naturally restricts its jugular vein, filling its skull with just enough blood to serve as a natural cushion.
“What if we do the same thing the woodpecker does?” Float told the Dispatch, before slipping a Q-Collar around his neck.
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ESPN
Flacco finds vintage form as Bengals win battle of 40-something QBs
Behind a monstrous effort from wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who finished with 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown, Cincinnati’s offense had its best showing of the season. The win also showed why the Bengals traded for quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the win, with starter Joe Burrow on injured reserve because of turf toe.
The trade — and Thursday night’s win — did just enough to give something Cincinnati hasn’t felt in weeks — hope.
Most surprising performance: Aside from Flacco’s huge night, Cincinnati’s running game had been woefully ineffective for the bulk of the first six weeks, with Chase Brown not living up to the preseason expectations. Against Pittsburgh, Brown had a game that could jump-start his year and really help the offense. He had 11 carries for 108 yards. But most importantly, he reeled off a couple of big runs, which helped open Cincinnati’s passing attack.
Stat to know: Chase crossed 6,000 receiving yards in his career in his 69th game. He is the fifth-fastest player to hit that threshold, with Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, his former LSU teammate, also in that group.
Next game: vs. New York Jets (1 p.m. ET, Oct. 26)
Discussion topics
NFL.com
NFL Week 7 picks: Will Cowboys and Colts pull off upsets?
Why Brooke picked the Vikings: There’s just no breathing room in the NFC North, and sand is running out of the hourglass for Minnesota to figure things out offensively. Fortunately, it had the bye week to get some key players healthy. However, J.J. McCarthy isn’t yet “100 percent,” so it could be Carson Wentz facing the team that drafted him in the place where the Eagles won the franchise’s first Super Bowl — with an injured Wentz watching from the sideline. That should be plenty of fuel for Wentz’s fire. It’ll help if guard Donovan Jackson, tackle Brian O’Neill and backup center Michael Jurgens — all of whom have practiced in some capacity this week — are able to play. They’ll need to be on their P’s and Q’s with Jalen Carter back for Philly. Regardless, expect Wentz to lean on Justin Jefferson, who is averaging nearly four more catches per game and 45 more yards per game with Wentz at QB than McCarthy this season. Another major storyline here is Philly’s offensive struggles in back-to-back losses. OC Kevin Patullo wants to run the ball more — and honestly, he should. It’s a crime that Saquon Barkley has rushed for fewer than 90 yards in all six games this season. This could be the week the Eagles jump-start their ground attack, with Minnesota ranking in the bottom third against the run. Brian Flores’ unit has struggled without leaders Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, but if both of them are healthy and on the field Sunday, the defense might just keep the questions about Philly’s offense swirling for another week.
Why Gennaro picked the Broncos: The Broncos lead the league in sacks, QB hits and pressure rate. Giants QB Jaxson Dart has a 48.6 passer rating when under pressure — the fifth-worst mark in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. This feels like a recipe for rookie wreckage, especially considering Dart committed three turnovers in his first road start two Sundays ago at New Orleans. Denver’s defense is a whole different animal, entering Week 7 with 10 more sacks than any other team. Nik Bonitto headlines the unit’s pocket destruction as an emerging Defensive Player of the Year candidate with eye-popping juice off the edge. And yet, Bonitto doesn’t even have the fastest get-off on the team — that’d be Jonathon Cooper, whom NGS clocks at an NFL-best 0.72 seconds. Now, the Giants counter this electric edge-rushing duo with one of the game’s best blind-side protectors in Andrew Thomas and a steady presence at right tackle in Jermaine Eluemunor. Those bookends could hold up. Unfortunately for New York, Denver’s pass rush isn’t limited to the perimeter. Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers and others bring waves of pressure on the interior — and that’s where this Giants line looks gettable, especially if center John Michael Schmitz is a no-go after leaving last week’s game with a concussion. Dart has given the G-Men new life, but I’m afraid Denver’s ferocious front is about to make the 22-year-old’s Sunday a living hell.
Why Dan picked the Commanders: When the Cowboys are playing this season, there’s a good chance the game is a shootout. I don’t see that style of play working out all that well for them. This year’s Dallas squad has already earned an ignominious place in NFL history, becoming the sixth team to score 175-plus points but have just two or fewer wins in their first six games of a season. Allowing 30-plus points per game is generally a losing proposition, and that’s particularly true when the opposing quarterback is as talented as Jayden Daniels. Prior to last week’s game, the Commanders were 10-2 when scoring 24 or more points in Daniels’ starts, including last season’s playoffs. A three-turnover night, including what turned out to be a catastrophic fumble late, proved to be insurmountable against the Bears, and such sloppy play could easily hand the Cowboys a signature win on Sunday. Dallas is getting healthier, but so is Washington — both CeeDee Lamb and Terry McLaurin could be back for this game. I’m expecting a cleaner operation from Dan Quinn’s crew in his return to his former workplace.
