The Commanders got a positive boost Thursday when Stefon Diggs was back as a full participant, just as Dan Quinn expected. But the injury report also left Washington with a fresh headache at receiver, and it comes at the worst possible time with Philadelphia coming to town.
Treylon Burks, who was limited Wednesday because of a foot injury, did not practice Thursday. With Terry McLaurin on injured reserve, Washington has one more day on the field before it has to settle on what its receiver room will look like for Sunday night’s rematch with the Eagles.
Javon Kinlaw, dealing with a knee issue, and John Bates, who is working through a shoulder injury, were out for a second straight practice. Nick Allegretti was added to the report with a back injury and did not take part.
Charles Omenihu remained limited with groin and ankle injuries, and Jer’Zhan Newton was still limited as well while his 21-day practice window remains open. Washington would still need to activate Newton from injured reserve for him to suit up Sunday.
Philadelphia also came out of Thursday with the same six nonparticipants it had in Wednesday’s estimated report. Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks were among them.
Barkley’s status is especially important after the Eagles placed Dameon Pierce on injured reserve Wednesday. That leaves Jaydon Blue as Philadelphia’s only healthy running back on the active roster, with Elijah Mitchell on the practice squad.
On the Washington side, offensive coordinator David Blough explained some of what the team focused on during the bye. The staff trimmed down certain personnel groupings and even simplified names so the offense can get out of the huddle quicker and avoid the shifts and formation penalties that have been dragging it behind the sticks.
Blough said third and fourth down remain the unit’s “biggest hangup.” He also said Antonio Williams should see more snaps and targets with McLaurin out, while Austin Ekeler’s workload can keep expanding.
Defensively, Daronte Jones said Washington has held more meetings with the full front in an effort to sharpen protection recognition and improve how the rush works together. He said he wants the defense to carry out pressure assignments and then win the one-on-one matchups those looks create. Preparing for Tanner McKee instead of Jalen Hurts has not changed that approach, and Sunday will show whether Washington can get its rush and coverage working in sync.
That point was reinforced by Quinn, who said the staff used the bye to study the relationship between pressure and coverage. “I'd love to see us, whether it's blitzing or rush coverage together, really being in sync with that,” Quinn said.
The Commanders are also trying to stack games in a tight stretch. They host the Eagles on Sunday night, November 1, after a 13-day break since their Monday night game against the 49ers.
Then comes the Rams on Sunday, November 8, before a trip to the Giants on Thursday Night Football on November 12. That means three games in 12 days, with the New York matchup landing on a short week.
There was one more encouraging note from the kicking game. Drew Stevens kept his strong run going by drilling his only field goal attempt against San Francisco, a 51-yarder.
That extended his streak to seven straight makes and pushed him to 10-for-12 on the season, good for 83.3 percent. He has also made three field goals from 50 yards or more, which is a Washington rookie season record, and his 57-yarder against Seattle still stands as the longest by a rookie in franchise history.
Washington also has help on the way in the coaching room. According to Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan in D.C., Wilks is expected to join the staff as of Sunday night against the Eagles. The Commanders brought him in after the Week 6 loss to San Francisco to help with game-planning, and before that arrangement has even seen a game, he is set to take on a bigger role.
There is still plenty for Washington to sort through before kickoff, but the picture is clearer now: the receiver depth is thin, the front seven is under the microscope, and the Commanders are trying to clean up the details that have been costing them drives.
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What makes the decision tricky is that the options do not line up the same way for a team trying to balance present needs with long-term sense. Bateman has been viewed as the cleanest match for Washingtons offense, while Godwin looks like the longest shot because of his injury history and age. With the deadline closing in, the Commanders have to decide whether this is the right time to strike or whether the market is better left alone. [Read more 🡒]
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Williams role is the one that now feels especially worth tracking as Washington moves deeper into the season. He made a couple of key catches when it mattered most, and the opportunity for a bigger workload is there as the offense reshuffles around a major injury. Stevens has also carved out a notable place in the rookie picture with a run of clean kicking, while offensive lineman Matt Gulbin remains in reserve after making one start and then disappearing from the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have A Real NFC East Opening Sunday Night
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What makes this one so compelling is the mix of opportunity and uncertainty on both sidelines. Washingtons chance against Philadelphia comes with injuries shaping the conversation for each team, and the result could matter well beyond one division game because it speaks to how quickly the playoff math can shift in late October. For a Commanders team still trying to carve out its place in the race, Sunday night offers a chance to make the kind of statement that lingers in the standings. [Read more 🡒]