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Practice notes | Joe Whitt Jr. explains decision to call plays from field
Washington’s defensive performances over the last month, particularly in the Week 9 loss to the Seahawks, “have not been up to the standard at all,” Whitt said. The unit, which had issues
during the 2024 season but still managed to hold offenses at bay, has slipped in almost every metric in 2025, as it ranks near the bottom in average yards allowed per game (28th), passing defense (29th) and points allowed per game (22nd). They have also struggled to create turnovers and are tied for the third fewest in the league.
The Commanders believe moving Whitt to the field can help improve at least some of those numbers, although it will come at the cost of certain advantages. Most of the defensive coordinators that Whitt has coached with, from Quinn himself to Mike Pettine, have all called plays from the box because the vantage point allowed them to get a better view of the field and make better personnel decisions.
But with the Commanders allowing 110 points in the last three weeks, Whitt is willing to sacrifice that advantage if it means his unit can play better. The blame for how the defense has drooped this season, he said, starts with him.
“I gotta do a better job getting the coaches to get the players to understand how we’re going to do it,” Whitt said. “And we gotta get this thing turned. We gotta get it turned right now.”
Washington Post (paywall)
Mailbag: What’s wrong with the Commanders? A little bit of everything.
Do you agree [General Manager Adam] Peters must now start over and build a younger roster around Mr. [Jayden] Daniels? — Ron Tipton
Tashan: I’d push back against the notion that the Commanders need to start over, but I agree they need to get younger. They can take steps toward doing that through free agency, but they also have looming decisions about whether to extend players such as left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Daron Payne — and Daniels will become expensive in 2028. Adding more sizable contracts to the books increases the importance of adding more young, cheap talent. The primary method of doing that, of course, is through the draft. Washington has just two picks in the first four rounds of the 2026 draft. It would be wise for Peters to try to change that through swinging some offseason trades.
In terms of specific areas where the Commanders need to improve, the list is long. Investing in the offensive and defensive trenches is always a good idea; Daniels could use another weapon or two on offense; the back end of the defense needs major help; and the collective depth on both sides of the ball needs to be addressed.
What do you think was the biggest mistake that was made in the offseason when putting this team together? — Mark Jones
Tom: This is hardly an original take, but I think it’s fair to second-guess the moves at wide receiver. The Commanders have gotten wildly unlucky at that spot, to be fair, with each of their top four wideouts missing at least one game due to injury so far. But Noah Brown and Deebo Samuel Sr. both had significant injury histories coming in, while Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey were both unproven commodities. Hindsight is 20-20, but I think there was an argument to be made even at the time for keeping Olamide Zaccheaus or working harder/spending more for an outside receiver to back up McLaurin and Brown.
ESPN
2025 NFL midseason report: Questions and stats for each team
Washington Commanders
FPI rank: 22
Chances to make the playoffs: 1.9%
Chances to win their division: 1.4%
First-half storyline: Injuries. Washington has not played well but it’s hard to escape a reversal of 2024 when it was healthy. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is sidelined again, this time with a dislocated elbow. Three of their top four defensive ends are out for the season. Two of their top three receivers — Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown — have missed a combined 12 games.
QB stat to know: Three and counting. That’s the number of games Daniels has missed this season — that number will increase because of his dislocated elbow. Daniels has played two games with his top-three receivers. The result is a disjointed second season. His completion percentage went from 69.0 as a rookie to 62.5. His QBR went from 67.7 to 51.9 this year.
Second-half storyline: Can they recover at all?
Washington entered as a playoff contender, hoping to build on a 12-5 season. But the Commanders now need to finish strong or face a myriad of questions all offseason, about Daniels’ durability, the state of the defense, which has been a major disappointment, as well as a roster that needs more impact young players.
Pro Football Focus
2025 NFL Midseason Report: All 32 NFL teams’ highest-graded players, biggest surprises and more
Highest-Graded Player: QB Marcus Mariota
Mariota has played much more than expected, as Jayden Daniels has endured a slew of difficult injuries in his second year. Still, Mariota has been effective, registering an 83.8 PFF passing grade with a gaudy 7.2% big-time throw rate. That figure is second to only Darnold among quarterbacks with 100 or more dropbacks.
Biggest Surprise: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Croskey-Merritt attracted considerable buzz when Washington traded away Brian Robinson in the preseason, and he’s met it so far. The rookie has notched a 77.4 PFF rushing grade with 3.34 yards after contact per attempt on 94 carries.
Stat to Know: The Commanders have yielded an explosive passing play at the highest rate in football (18.1%).
A to Z Sports
Commanders need to play Mike Sainristil outside
The move back inside hasn’t gone well for Sainristil, even though he has shown flashes with three interceptions. The defense, as a whole, has been a disappointment, and the team needs to make changes. The main topic needs to be whether Sainristil can play outside again next season, and they need to play him there now to see how that looks.
Head coach Dan Quinn discussed the possibility of playing Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene, given that Lattimore is out for the season and Trey Amos is hurt.
“The candidates of Jonathan [Jones], obviously, he’s going to play more,” Quinn said. “And Noah [Igbinoghene], he’s got the experience inside at nickel as well. So, having Jonathan here and Mike with both inside and outside flex, that’s a big deal because now you’re not just – he can only play this spot. Think of it like the offensive lineman who can only play center and can’t play guard. So, the fact that those two guys play both is a big deal for us and Noah as well.
Sainristil is a talented corner, and we saw that in his first year. However, the move into the slot might now have been the wrong move, as he’s playing too aggressively at times. Quinn said he’s capable of making big plays, but does too much sometimes.
Heavy.com
Eddie Goldman: Improves to full practice Thursday
Goldman (concussion) participated fully in practice Thursday. Goldman was evaluated for a concussion during last Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. He began this week with a limited practice before upgrading to a full session Thursday. That suggests he could be able to suit up Sunday versus the Lions, though it’s not clear if he’s cleared concussion protocol yet.
Riggo’s Rag
7 Commanders who must be unleashed to shape the next chapter
Treylon Burks – Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders used Luke McCaffrey’s unfortunate season-ending broken collarbone to sign Treylon Burks to the active roster. He’s been fast-tracked into a vital role much sooner than expected, so seizing the moment is paramount.
Burks was cast aside by the Tennessee Titans. It was a bad fit that looked doomed from the start, and a fresh start was the best possible solution for all parties. He’s got the physical tools to be a difference-maker, so the Commanders need to find a way to mold this into a more consistent performer when it counts.
The Commanders gave Burks a shot in Week 9, bringing in his only target for 14 receiving yards. That’ll be a huge confidence boost to the wideout, so stacking good performances will be his next target.
Opportunity knocks for Burks. Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, and McCaffrey are out. The Arkansas product will never get a better chance to enhance his claims for an extended stay.
Commanders Wire
Kliff Kingsbury makes his point clear regarding Commanders’ run game struggles
“I think all of us are pressing a little bit,” Kingsbury said. “Yeah. You definitely feel that, you know, we got to take what’s blocked. I thought that’s one thing C-Rod did a really nice job when he came in. We got to take what’s blocked and then the big plays will come, but I think as an entire offense we’re pressing and we’ve got to just make the routine plays and allow those big plays to happen.”
“I think, you know, you go through flows of the season and different guys kind of are called upon to do different things and every time we’ve asked C-Rod to step up, he’s played at a high level and so he did that once again but that’s an area, like I said, I think we’ve got to be able to get what’s blocked and then when we have a chance to make a big one, we got to take advantage of that as well.”
Kingsbury referenced getting what’s blocked twice. Whether he intended to or not, he’s sending a message. While many factors are at play for Washington’s offensive regression, injuries haven’t helped. Sometimes, it’s too easy to blame the offensive line when the running game has issues. That’s not how Kingsbury sees it. And it sounds like Rodriguez is giving the Commanders exactly what they need and will be rewarded for it, perhaps as soon as Sunday.
NFL.com
NFL Week 10 picks: Upset and score predictions, matchup breakdowns for every game
Why Ali picked the Lions: The Commanders enter this weekend’s matchup on the heels of one of the more demoralizing outings in recent franchise history. Washington’s defense added insult to the numerous injuries the team sustained Sunday night, allowing 31 first-half points to the Seahawks’ top-10 offense. Counting on Dan Quinn’s group to suddenly snap out of its season-long funk, against Dan Campbell’s ruthless 11th-ranked unit, seems unwise — even with Detroit’s offense in a bit of a mini-slump, as well. But let’s say the Commanders are able to keep Jared Goff & Co. below their season averages … Can they also rely on Marcus Mariota to lead multiple TD drives (probably at least three) against the NFL’s eighth-ranked defense? I guess it’s possible. But getting that level of complementary ball has been rare for the Commanders this season. Then there’s the fact that the Lions lost last Sunday, too, which makes me that much more confident in them this week. Why? Because Detroit hasn’t dropped back-to-back regular-season games in more than three years — the longest active streak in the NFL. Not only do the Lions rebound fast under DC, but they tend to punish folks after an L, winning by an average of 16.6 points. While I don’t expect the Lions’ run to end on Sunday, the uncertainty along their O-line — LG Christian Mahogany is out, while tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell were DNPs on Wednesday — is worth watching.
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Deep-Dive Film Study on the Detroit Lions | Film Breakdown | Washington Commanders | NFL
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The Athletic (paywall)
Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland dies after apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following police chase
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead early Thursday morning in Frisco, Texas, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after crashing his vehicle following a police chase, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. He was 24.
The chase began at 10:33 p.m. local time on Wednesday, when officers attempted to stop the vehicle Kneeland was driving. He refused to stop, leading DPS troopers to pursue Kneeland until they said they lost sight of his car. The vehicle was later found abandoned after being involved in a crash in the southbound lanes of the Dallas Parkway.
Initial reports indicated that Kneeland fled the scene on foot, according to the Frisco Police Department. The police in nearby Plano, about 20 miles north of Dallas, confirmed to The Athletic that a welfare concern check was conducted at an address associated with Kneeland on Wednesday at 11:40 p.m. local time. Officers did not find anybody at the residence.
The Athletic reviewed a Frisco police dispatch recording from around 11:30 p.m., in which an officer said police were talking to Kneeland’s girlfriend, who did not know where he was.
“She’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness. And her quote was, ‘He will end it all,’” the officer said on the recording.
Frisco police radio said around 11:45 p.m. that members of a group chat Kneeland was in received a message from him saying “Goodbye.”
Based on the radio recording, officers began to narrow the search zone to an office complex just under half a mile west of the Dallas Parkway. A drone confirmed there was blood trickling from a porta-potty by the complex around 1:20 a.m., and an officer said thermal imaging showed the heat signature of someone curled up on the floor.
Police called off the search at 1:31 a.m. after finding Kneeland dead inside the porta-potty.
Upcoming opponent
Pride of Detroit
Detroit Lions coordinator takeaways: Time for some player accountability
Detroit Lions coordinators pointed to several player execution issues in last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Execution—not communication or blitz identification—is the problem
Blame has been placed all around for the poor protection in the Vikings game. Some have blamed the scheme, some have blamed blitz identification, while others have pointed to the offensive line just not winning. Morton mostly blamed the final one.
“I think our communication has been really good. Ever since the Green Bay game, it’s been really good. It’s just a matter of some guys getting beat. That’s all it is,” Morton said. “I’m just telling you that’s—when you look at it over and over and over, it’s one or two guys that are just breaking down. And we’ve got young guys, and they’re still learning. And really, they shouldn’t be because we’re halfway through the season.”
When asked if they had trouble identifying blitzes, Morton, again, harped on execution being the bigger problem.
“No, the IDs have been good. I’m just saying, guys are breaking down,” Morton said. “And it’s one or two guys when you watch it. And we’ve got to collectively get it right.”
More Isaac TeSlaa coming
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Morton believes they will get rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa more involved this week after playing in just three offensive snaps vs. the Vikings.
“We’re going to get him the ball more. And that helps with the other guys, so they’re not always playing 65, 70 plays. But we’re real happy with where he’s at,” Morton said.
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Rome Odunze says dad’s shots at Bears don’t speak for me
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze said Thursday that his father’s posts on social media are his prerogative, but that they don’t speak for the former first-round pick.
Odunze is coming off his NFL first game without a catch despite the Bears scoring 47 points in a last-second win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He was targeted three times in the game.
After the win, James Odunze reposted a message on social media that asked whether the Bears would “trade Rome Odunze to a team that will actually throw to him” and another post that declared the receiver “should be seeing at least 10 targets per game.”
“I don’t make a big deal out of it,” Rome Odunze said. “Obviously, he has his opinions, and I have mine. And he feels like he needs to voice those things on social media. That’s his prerogative. But he speaks for himself. I speak for myself.”
Odunze leads the Bears in targets (59), receiving yards (473), receiving touchdowns (5) and is tied with fellow receiver Olamide Zaccheaus with 31 receptions. Odunze is averaging over seven targets per game and dispelled any notion that he is frustrated with his role in Chicago.
The receiver, who returned to practice Thursday after being sidelined because of heel and ankle injuries, said he isn’t bothered by having to answer inquiries about his father’s social media posts and said his father’s intentions are good-natured.
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
After overturned suspension for hip-drop tackle, NFL players remain confused about rule
There was no flag on the play. No indication from officials that Luvu had erred. But on Monday, he received a letter from the NFL saying he was suspended for a Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions. Although Luvu successfully appealed the ruling and had the punishment reduced to a $100,000 fine, he worried about his reputation.
More significant: He, and others in the Commanders’ locker room, said they’re unclear on what the NFL deems a punishable hip-drop tackle. Some indicated they weren’t even sure why the NFL was trying to get rid of them or what they’re supposed to do to avoid them.
“That’s the question I’m trying to ask myself and ask them — what is it?’ Luvu said. “It’s frustrating for me sometimes because you look at it, all the plays that they’ve seen it at, and to see what they’re looking at … I think they’re still trying to figure out what is a hip drop and that’s out of my control.”
Defensive end Jacob Martin concurred, saying his lone goal is to get the runner down and move on to the next play, while lamenting the challenges defenders face with added restrictions on tackling.
That sparked reaction from cornerback Jonathan Jones, sitting at a locker across from him.,
“They say, ‘Hey, this is the way it’s wrong,’” Jones said. “But (the NFL) can’t show a right way. They can’t do that.”
The league’s definition of the hip-drop includes three parts, all of which have to be present to be punishable: A tackling player grabs or wraps a runner, unweights his body and swivels around the runner, and lands on or traps the runner’s legs. The foul results in a 15-yard penalty and first down for the offense.
But so far, it has rarely been penalized in games, an outcome the league said it anticipated. Instead, the NFL uses its schedule of fines to penalize players days later, with the hope the financial pressures will eliminate the injurious play.
Dawn Aponte, the NFL’s chief football administrative officer, said in April that 27 players were fined for hip-drop tackles in 2024. Only one was penalized in the game, but the call was incorrect, according to the league.
