#washington-commanders

#washington-commanders

Atlanta Falcons Washington Commanders With leading receiver Drake London set to miss his second straight game with a knee injury, Drummond joins the 53-man roster off the taxi squad. He was unable to be a standard gameday practice squad elevation, since he'd already been elevated three times this year. Chosen is headed to the waiver wire after three games with Washington.

Third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been viewed as a Robinson clone. Powerful but not explosive. Kliff Kingsbury seems to prefer runners who can make lightning cuts, make defenders miss, and break big plays. The Kentucky product has been viewed as more of a straight-ahead power back. Croskey-Merritt began the year backing up veteran Austin Ekeler, with reliable all-purpose veteran Jeremy McNichols rounding out the running back room.

Adam Peters made a significant impact on the Washington Commanders during his first year as general manager. He made some bold choices, and the results were immediate. This sleeping giant went from a perennial struggler to the NFC Championship game, propelling them back onto the national stage in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, things have not gone as well this time around.

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was the apple of Rivera's eye during his final draft in 2023. He thought the undersized cornerback could become the lockdown force Washington desperately needed, taking him over Christian Gonzalez at No. 16 overall. What he failed to recognize was the significant development he needed to flourish. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is silencing all doubters one year after Commanders cut ties. Forbes got thrown to the wolves. He was physically outmatched, technically deficient in tackling, and sapped of confidence right from the outset.

Entering the 2025 season, the linebacker position was seen as perhaps Washington's single most significant strength. Frankie Luvu was the breakout gem of the Commanders' defense last season. Bobby Wagner, although he was aging, had to be considered an impact performer until he wasn't. Both were named second-team All-Pros in 2024. This season, it's been a different story. Wagner's age has finally begun to show, with his limitations making him a liability in space. His tackle numbers are still among the best in the league, but that's heavily misleading when his lack of speed is so often targeted.

There is just something missing right now. Croskey-Merritt has been unseated from the starting role by Chris Rodriguez Jr., who's displaying the aggression and conviction this offense desperately needs. Whether this trend continues after the bye week remains to be seen, but there are growing questions among fans and the media about why the first-year pro has gone entirely to the fringes.

the universe is handing out good deals,

It was a season in which the Washington Commanders were expected to challenge for the Super Bowl. Fans were legitimately hopeful for the first time in decades, but it's been an absolute disaster almost from start to finish. One can place plenty of blame on the torrid injury luck. But even if everyone was available, this squad looks a long way off from hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy right now.

In an effort to make sense of a disastrous season, Washington Commanders fans have pinned blame on general manager Adam Peters, on coaches like defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., and on injuries. But in the final analysis, the buck always stops with the players themselves. The Commanders certainly had holes in their roster at the start of the season and have undoubtedly been crushed by injury. But they still have many talented players who have not performed well this year.

There was a great deal of excitement when the Commanders signed undrafted wide receiver Jacoby Jones from the practice squad to their active roster before Week 11. He earned the right to stick around during the offseason, catching the eye in training camp and also making his opportunities count in the postseason. After getting extra time to hone his craft, Washington allowed him to flourish in a competitive setting.

Quinn revealed that everyone is depleted, and it's not just the players and coaches. That goes for fans, too. It's been an arduous, draining campaign that promised much but has fallen by the wayside. The Commanders are 3-8 when most were anticipating another postseason run. And it's not hard to see why attention is already turning to what promises to be a pivotal offseason for general manager Adam Peters.

True, it hasn't applied to all the starters, and the team has opted for second-rounders instead of firsts, but you can still see the vague outlines of the plan. Three recent second-round draft picks - safety Quan Martin, chosen by Ron Rivera in 2023, and cornerbacks Mike Sainristil (2024) and Trey Amos (2025), selected by Peters - supposedly form the core of a new and improved secondary.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, cornerback Mike Sainristil is the smallest player on the Washington Commanders' roster. That has never been seen as a problem because of the Michigan product's savvy and toughness. But as Sainristil has struggled for much of this season, questions about his size have started to crop up. The common wisdom was that Sainristil would thrive this year because he would be able to move to his more natural slot corner position.