Terry McLaurin’s season-ending torn patellar tendon has changed the picture for Washington, and Antonio Williams is right in the middle of it. The rookie receiver now has a bigger lane in the offense, and with that comes a bigger responsibility to keep building his connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Williams said the chemistry is coming along, even if he knows there’s still work to do.
“I think every week it’s getting better. I mean, that comes with time."
Williams said regarding his chemistry with Daniels during a media availability session. "Every time the ball comes my way, I want to make sure I’m in the right spot and, you know, trust and earn.
So I’m just trying to earn that.”
That trust showed up in a big way against Philadelphia in Week 8, when Williams led the Commanders in targets and receptions and became one of Daniels’ most dependable options throughout the night. In his “Sunday Night Football” debut, he posted a team-high seven targets and five catches for 54 yards.
The rookie’s recent primetime run has been productive, too. Over his last two appearances on the big stage against the San Francisco 49ers and Eagles, Williams has totaled eight receptions for 104 receiving yards.
And if anyone wondered how Washington’s front office feels about him, general manager Adam Peters made that pretty clear in a recent interview on 106.7 The Fan, via Coachspeak Index. Peters described Williams as the kind of receiver who keeps popping free and makes life easier for the quarterback.
“Every time we go to him, he comes through, man. And I feel like every play - whether he gets the ball or not - he’s open… He also has just this innate ability to find spots and be a friendly target for the quarterback. So, he’s earned the right to get more targets."
That lines up with what Washington’s coaching staff has been saying about Williams since training camp. Before Week 1, offensive coordinator David Blough pointed to the consistency the rookie had already shown behind the scenes.
"He's been very consistent since he's been here," Blough said prior to Week 1, about Williams, via Zach Selby of the Commanders team website. "We saw it on the tape.
You see some of the ball skills that show up in the game. And so, as we continue to grow here, we're excited about his progression as we go down the road here."
Williams says the approach won’t change as his role grows. For him, it still comes back to the same daily grind that got him here in the first place.
"I'm going to put my head down every day and put in all the work and be the best version of myself, and hopefully that's more than they expect from me," Williams said, via Selby.
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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 🡒]
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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
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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 🡒]