The Commanders had every reason to lean on Stefon Diggs in Week 9, and instead they spent long stretches treating him like an afterthought.
Washington was already short-handed at wide receiver against the Los Angeles Rams, with second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin done for the season, Treylon Burks out with a foot injury, and Dyami Brown on injured reserve and possibly not back in 2026. Even with that thin group, Diggs barely factored into the plan for most of the game.
He saw a couple of targets in the first quarter, catching one and dropping the other. Then came a long drought. The Maryland product didn’t get another look until late in the fourth quarter, when he hauled in a big sideline catch that helped put the Commanders in a more respectable position, though they still couldn’t finish the job.
That usage didn’t go unnoticed. Fans on social media pointed out that Diggs was extremely vocal with offensive coordinator David Blough on the sideline, and the frustration seemed obvious enough to draw a question in Dan Quinn’s postgame media session.
Quinn pushed back on the idea that the Commanders intentionally dialed back Diggs’ role.
“Nope. It wasn’t any further design than another.
We’ve actually done less multiples of who and what, especially when we’re lighter than we have been. So no, there was no design of having less, just how we’re going to feature a certain play.”
Make of that what you will.
What’s hard to ignore is the math. Two early targets, then almost nothing until the closing minutes, is a strange way to handle a player of Diggs’ caliber - especially with Washington’s receiving room stretched so thin.
Van Jefferson Jr., third-round rookie Antonio Williams, and tight end Chig Okonkwo all saw more targets than Diggs. Five targets total, spread that far apart, wasn’t enough.
Diggs came to Washington wanting to play closer to home, but also because he believed this team could compete. That hasn’t happened yet, and when the ball isn’t going his way, the frustration has a way of surfacing.
A trade before the deadline doesn’t appear likely. Diggs fought for this chance, and there may not be much market for a short-term rental playing around 60 percent of snaps.
Still, with McLaurin out, the Commanders have to get more out of Diggs while they can. Thursday Night Football is coming, Washington’s season is on the line, and the questions around how he’s being used are only getting louder.
In Other News...
Commanders Center Problem Has Become Impossible To Ignore
Sundays loss to the Rams pushed Washington to 2-5-1 and put an even brighter spotlight on an offensive line that has been struggling to hold up its end. The center spot, in particular, has become a weekly problem, with the Commanders trying to patch together stability after an offseason that included moving on from Tyler Biadasz and banking on Nick Allegretti to handle the job.
The latest hit only sharpened the concern. Lucas Patrick was forced out of the game for a concussion check, and the ripple effect from there underscored how thin the room has become at a critical position. For Adam Peters, the decision to reshape the middle of the line is looking harder to justify by the week, and Washingtons inability to settle the center spot is now one of the clearest reasons the offense keeps fighting uphill. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Draft Priorities Are Already Starting To Look Obvious
The Week 10 matchup between Notre Dame and Miami drew more than just college football attention, with NFL scouts in the stands and the Commanders among the teams taking a close look. For Washington, the defensive side of the ball appears to be the natural place to start, and that means prospects such as Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore and Miami defensive tackles Justin Scott and Ahmad Soten fit the profile of players worth tracking as the draft picture begins to take shape.
Moores name has already started to circulate as one of the more intriguing defenders in the class, while Scott and Soten give Miami a pair of interior linemen who could also draw interest from teams looking to add size and disruption up front. Injuries and individual performances at the game were part of the backdrop, but for Washington the real significance was simpler: the Commanders were there, and the early signs suggest their draft board may be leaning toward defense. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Left Tackle Problem Is Becoming Impossible To Ignore
The Commanders move to Brandon Coleman at blindside tackle was supposed to steady things after Laremy Tunsil went down with a torn triceps in training camp, but the transition has not gone smoothly. Coleman has had a difficult time holding up in the role, and his issues were especially visible in the recent game against the Los Angeles Rams, where the protection problems only added to the concern around Washingtons most important spot up front.
With little proven depth behind him, the situation has become more than just a short-term patch job. Washington is now weighing its options at left tackle, and the internal conversation has turned to whether a change is needed before the problem gets any bigger, with the practice squad offering at least one possible path if the Commanders decide to make a move. [Read more 🡒]