With Daron Payne out for the season, Tim Settle Jr. suddenly finds himself carrying a huge load for the Washington Commanders in Week 8 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
That starts with Saquon Barkley, who has been a constant problem for Washington and could be the one Eagles skill player still capable of tilting this game if he’s healthy. The Commanders’ defense has been stretched thin, and now Settle is one of the last credible linemen left to help keep Barkley from turning Northwest Stadium into another one of his usual rushing showcases.
Settle, 29, has been part of a run defense that has looked better at times, but recent games have also exposed some cracks. Payne’s foot fracture only makes that worse, especially with Javon Kinlaw already unavailable. If Washington is going to keep Barkley from gashing them on the ground, Settle has to be the one plugging holes and forcing the Eagles to earn every yard.
That’s where Settle’s job gets so important. He’s at his best when he clogs lanes, absorbs double teams and keeps blockers off the more aggressive pursuit players around him, including rookie linebacker Sonny Styles. Styles made noise in the Week 1 meeting when he put Barkley on skates, and Washington will need that kind of free-running help again if it wants a different result this time.
Settle can help create that by winning his matchup with overmatched center Drew Kendall. If he controls Kendall, it should pull extra attention his way and open things up for the other linemen trying to replace Payne and Kinlaw. That kind of interior pressure matters even more against Barkley, who has been a nightmare for Washington in recent years.
Across four regular-season games against the Commanders with the Eagles, Barkley has averaged 5.6 yards per carry and 127.8 rushing yards, per StatMuse. Washington did a better job in the season opener, holding him to 83 yards, though 42 of those came on a single run.
The Commanders’ best answer is to get to Barkley before he can build momentum, and Settle may not be the one making the tackle in the backfield. But he can make life easier for Deatrich Wise Jr. and Charles Omenihu, two veterans who can slide inside on passing downs and may need to spend more time there with the front so short-handed. Omenihu brings size at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, while Wise has the kind of run-stopping experience he picked up in Bill Belichick’s two-gap system with the New England Patriots.
If Settle and that interior group can hold up, Washington can take away the one thing the Eagles still do well on offense and force backup quarterback Tanner McKee to beat them through the air.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Need Unproven Help In Their Biggest Test Yet
The Commanders are heading into their Week 8 matchup with Philadelphia in a far different spot than they expected, with injuries forcing the roster to absorb some serious losses on both sides of the ball. The absence of Daron Payne leaves a major hole up front, while the offense also has to move on without Terry McLaurin, a setback that changes the look of the passing game and puts even more pressure on the rest of the lineup.
Against the Eagles, Washington will need a handful of less-established contributors to take on bigger jobs than anyone likely planned a few weeks ago. Antonio Williams, Charles Omenihu, Sonny Styles, Sam Cosmi and Rachaad White are among the players now being asked to do more, and how they handle those expanded responsibilities could go a long way toward determining whether the Commanders can stay competitive in one of their toughest tests of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Be Forced Into A Deadline Move Fans Didn't Expect
Receiver help has become a familiar topic around the Commanders as the trade deadline nears, and the market may not offer many clean answers. Cleveland has no plans to move Jerry Jeudy right now, even with multiple teams circling, and Washington is among the clubs watching the situation because of its need at the position and the ripple effects of injuries around the league.
For a team trying to stay competitive, that kind of waiting game can be frustrating. The Rams and Chiefs are also in the mix, which only adds to the pressure if the Browns eventually soften their stance, but for now the whole thing remains speculative and could shift quickly as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Terry McLaurins Future In Washington Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Terry McLaurins long-term place in Washington looked secure when he signed a three-year extension in 2025 worth more than $96 million, with nearly $45 million guaranteed. But after a season-ending knee injury in 2026, the picture around the Commanders top receiver has changed in a hurry, and the team now has to weigh both his health and the realities of a contract built around availability and production.
McLaurin will miss out on some of the incentives and bonuses tied to playing time and performance, and that only adds another layer to a situation that already feels more complicated than it did a year ago. Washington could look at restructuring the deal, or it could make roster decisions with an eye toward where McLaurin stands physically and how the locker room looks as leadership continues to evolve. [Read more 🡒]