Commanders Collapse Again, and Jeremy Reaves’ Role Continues to Shift
Another week, another gut punch for the Washington Commanders. What looked like a winnable game midway through the third quarter quickly spiraled into yet another late-game unraveling - and this one came with stakes. The Philadelphia Eagles walked out of Northwest Stadium with the NFC East crown in hand, while Washington was left sorting through the wreckage of a season that’s been defined more by missed opportunities than meaningful progress.
And right in the middle of it all is Jeremy Reaves - a player who’s worn the Commanders’ colors with pride, effort, and heart, but whose role on defense is starting to fade at a noticeable clip.
A Season of High Hopes, Low Returns
Reaves earned his way into the defensive rotation this year after an impressive preseason that turned heads. He’s long been known as a tone-setter on special teams, but this summer he made a strong case for more defensive snaps. The coaching staff listened - at least initially.
But as the season’s worn on, the results haven’t quite matched the promise. Reaves’ effort has never been in question.
He plays hard, he leads vocally, and he’s the kind of guy teammates rally around. But effort only takes you so far when the fundamentals start to slip.
Missed tackles and over-pursuit in coverage have become recurring issues, and in Week 16, the coaching staff made a clear adjustment.
Snap Count Tells the Story
Against the Eagles, Reaves played just 26% of the team’s defensive snaps - a steep drop from his season average of 58%. That’s not a minor tweak; that’s a signal. Whether it was matchup-driven or performance-based, it’s clear that Dan Quinn and the defensive staff are rethinking how - and how often - Reaves is deployed on that side of the ball.
Still, there’s one area where Reaves continues to shine: special teams. He delivered a highlight-reel stop against Philly that reminded everyone why he was an All-Pro in that phase of the game.
That part of his game remains elite, and it’s why the Commanders brought him back on a one-year deal this past offseason. He’s not going anywhere - at least not in that role.
A Safety Room in Flux
It’s not just Reaves feeling the heat. The entire safety unit has struggled this season.
No one’s truly stepped up to take control of the position group, and that inconsistency has only amplified questions about some of the front office’s offseason decisions - including letting Jeremy Chinn walk in free agency. That move raised eyebrows at the time, and it looks even more questionable now given the lack of production on the back end.
For GM Adam Peters, this offseason is shaping up to be a critical one. Washington’s secondary needs a serious overhaul, and the safety room will be at the top of the list.
What’s Next for Reaves?
Reaves still has value - a lot of it, in fact. He’s one of the league’s best special-teamers, and that’s not nothing.
But if he wants to be more than a specialist, there’s work to be done. The tackling issues have to be addressed.
Too often, he’s going for the strip instead of securing the ball carrier, and it’s hurting the defense in key moments.
The door isn’t closed on Reaves carving out a bigger defensive role again, but it’s clear that time is running short. If nothing changes, his future in Washington - and perhaps around the league - may be defined by his excellence on special teams rather than his impact on defense.
And honestly? That’s still a valuable role.
But for a player who’s fought tooth and nail for every snap, you know he’s aiming for more. Whether he gets there will depend on how he responds to this latest setback.