The Washington Commanders is not going to lose their seventh consecutive recreation this week. Washington is lastly on its bye. A 3-2 begin with an enormous highway win over the Los Angeles Chargers has now changed into six straight losses, a 3-8 file, and a possible top-five choose.
Accidents have dominated the dialog across the 2025 Commanders. For the entire luck and good bounces Washington obtained final season, issues have drastically gone the other way this season. And accidents aren’t the one motive for the Commanders’ struggles. The regression of key gamers from final season has been startling.
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Whereas Washington has handled a ton of accidents, particular positions have been hit the toughest. At huge receiver, the Commanders have misplaced Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown, and Luke McCaffrey for a recreation or extra. McLaurin has appeared in solely 4 video games, Brown hasn’t performed since Week 2, and McCaffrey is out for the season. Samuel missed one recreation and has performed by way of accidents.
Washington has additionally been hit laborious at defensive finish and cornerback.
How would you grade the Commanders over their first 11 video games? After each Washington recreation, we do a report card, grading the offense, protection, particular groups, teaching workers, and the quarterback. This is our report card for as much as the Week 12 bye.
Offense: B-
It is troublesome to grade the offense pretty when Jayden Daniels and McLaurin have solely performed in two video games collectively. Whenever you mix that with McLaurin lacking OTAs, coaching camp, and the preseason, it is no surprise the 2 weren’t on the identical web page early. The working recreation began sturdy, however tailed off starting in Week 6. A part of that is because of Washington’s accidents at receiver. Opposing defenses didn’t respect any of the Commanders’ wideouts, in order that they loaded the field and centered on shutting down the run. Additionally, Daniels is an enormous a part of the working recreation and has missed 5 video games.
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The brand new-look offensive line has had its moments. Left deal with Laremy Tunsil has been as marketed. Rookie proper deal with Josh Conerly Jr. struggled early, however is getting higher each week. At occasions, the 2024 offensive line appeared higher, however that is extra about cohesion. Keep in mind, Sam Cosmi missed a number of weeks to start out the season. The extra this group performs collectively, the higher.
Deebo Samuel has been requested to do an excessive amount of at occasions, however he is performed nicely. Zach Ertz has struggled. General, this unit hasn’t been as sturdy as final season, however accidents have positively performed a major function. The Commanders nonetheless have a stable offense.
Protection: F
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was demoted forward of Week 11. Whereas accidents have performed a job on this unit’s downfall, too, so have errors, regression, teaching, and personnel. Dorance Armstrong was the unit’s MVP till he tore his ACL in Week 7. Defensive deal with Javon Kinlaw has been dominant at occasions in his first season with the Commanders. Will Harris appeared like a stable addition, however was injured in Week 3. Defensive finish Deatrich Sensible was misplaced for the season in Week 2.
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Rookie cornerback Trey Amos seems to be like a keeper. Amos greater than held his personal till he was misplaced for the season after struggling a leg damage in Week 10. Marshon Lattimore was up and down till he tore his ACL in Week 9. Mike Sainristil has regressed this season. So has security Quan Martin. Head coach Dan Quinn reduce into Martin’s taking part in time in Week 11. Linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu had been second-team All-Professionals final season. This 12 months, Wagner is racking up the tackles, however his struggles in protection are on full show weekly. Luvu just isn’t the identical participant he was one 12 months in the past.
Accidents have not helped, however this unit continued to make the identical errors time and again, even earlier than the accidents piled up.
Particular groups: A-
Kicker Matt Homosexual made solely 13 of 19 subject objectives earlier than he was reduce this week. Washington signed Homosexual to a big-money deal for a kicker, and he made lower than 70% of his kicks. Punter Tress Approach has been wonderful as traditional. The protection models are terrific underneath particular groups coach Larry Izzo.
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Deebo Samuel was doing a wonderful job as the first kick returner earlier than Washington eliminated him in worry of damage. Luke McCaffrey took over and was among the many prime 5 returners in common per return and complete return yardage on the time of his damage.
At punt returner, rookie Jaylin Lane returned one 90 yards for a landing and is among the many prime 10 leaders, averaging over 12 yards per return. Lane took over at kickoff returner when McCaffrey was injured and instantly fumbled. He is fumbled twice this season. As soon as he cleans that up, Lane could possibly be one of many NFL’s most harmful returners.
General, this can be a sturdy unit.
Teaching: C
This grade feels about proper. Dan Quinn has made a number of errors this season, together with with clock administration and timeout utilization. His resolution to proceed to stay with Whitt because the defensive play-caller was curious, too. You may’t blame Quinn for accidents, however he is not urgent all the suitable buttons like he did in 2024.
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Not every thing was Whitt’s fault. How rather more are you able to simplify a protection? Gamers must make performs, as Von Miller stated. However his insistence on sticking with man protection, although he did not have the personnel for it, was cussed. Additionally, why have so many prime defensive gamers from final 12 months taken a step again this season? That falls on teaching, whether or not it is Quinn, Whitt, or the defensive place coaches.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury hasn’t been as nice as he was in 2024, however he is needed to play with out Daniels and McLaurin for lengthy stretches. These are his prime two offensive gamers. Kingsbury’s short-yardage play-calling has come underneath hearth at occasions, however, total, he is nonetheless one of many NFL’s greatest play-callers. He wants his prime guys again.
Quarterback: B
Daniels wasn’t as sharp early within the season as he was as a rookie. Nevertheless, that tells you ways good he was final season. He wasn’t dangerous early this season, however he was off together with his accuracy. His worst performances got here in opposition to Inexperienced Bay (Week 2), Dallas (Week 7) and Seattle (Week 10). Coincidentally sufficient, these had been the video games by which he was injured. In fact, the accidents did not impression his accuracy. Daniels simply wants good damage luck and to have his prime receivers again. He was excellent in opposition to the Chargers in Week 5, and he performed nicely in opposition to the Bears in Week 6, aside from the interception and fumble. Keep in mind, Washington was driving to clinch the sport when Daniels fumbled late within the fourth quarter.
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Marcus Mariota has performed nicely in every of his 5 begins. He nonetheless makes performs together with his legs, and he stays correct. Mariota has additionally needed to take care of a scarcity of offensive weapons on account of damage. If not for the protection, Mariota’s win/loss file seems to be significantly better.
General, quarterback play is not holding again Washington. Is B too excessive? Perhaps. However a B or B- feels about proper.
This text initially appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Grading each unit at the bye
