It was a light week on the schedule, but the Washington Commanders’ rookie race still shifted a little after the 23-17 loss to San Francisco. With the bye now behind them and only one game added since the last check-in, the rankings are still being shaped by the same two things that matter most: who’s on the field, and what they do once they get there.
At the top, Sonny Styles hasn’t really given anyone a clean path to overtake him. He followed his 13-tackle outing against the Giants with another 13 against San Francisco, and he added a pass defensed while playing 53 of Washington’s 62 defensive snaps. Through six games, Styles leads the team with 46 tackles and also has a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, and four passes defensed across 361 defensive snaps.
The advanced numbers say the rookie linebacker still has some rough edges. His overall PFF grade has dipped from 71.6 to 68.9, which leaves him 24th among 74 qualifying linebackers.
His coverage grade has fallen from 75.1 to 72.7, and his 58.0 run-defense grade and eight missed tackles point to the areas that still need cleaning up. Even so, Styles has started all six games, handled the green dot when needed, and already sits as Washington’s tackle leader.
That keeps him in the No. 1 spot.
Antonio Williams made things interesting against the 49ers. He caught three passes for 50 yards, his best receiving output since Week 1, and the timing of those grabs stood out just as much as the yardage.
Williams ran 35 routes but wasn’t targeted until the fourth quarter, when all four of his looks came on third down. His three catches accounted for all three of Washington’s successful third-down conversions.
For the season, Williams has 18 receptions for 205 yards and a touchdown. PFF has him at a 74.0 overall grade, good for 23rd among 76 qualifying receivers, and he still hasn’t been charged with a drop.
The bigger development is what comes next. With Terry McLaurin out for the season, Dan Quinn has already said Williams should see more targets.
He was on the field for 45 of 67 offensive snaps against San Francisco, so the workload has been there. The question now is whether the ball starts finding him more often.
Drew Stevens keeps stacking reasons to feel better about Washington’s kicking game. Against San Francisco, he drilled his only field-goal attempt, a 51-yarder, which extended his streak to seven straight makes.
He’s now 10-for-12 on the season, an 83.3% clip, and he has already set a Washington rookie record with three makes from at least 50 yards. His 57-yarder against Seattle is still the longest by a rookie in franchise history.
The extra points have been less clean, with Stevens at 10-of-13 for 76.9%, though two of those misses came under unusual circumstances. His 57.3 PFF field-goal grade ranks 29th among 32 qualifying kickers, but the production from distance and the steady run of makes are hard to ignore after six games.
Matt Gulbin’s spot hasn’t changed much since his start at right guard against Indianapolis. He hasn’t played another offensive snap since that game, and that London outing remains his only start.
Gulbin finished with 64 snaps in that contest and has 72 on the year, along with a 63.2 overall PFF grade, a 62.7 pass-blocking grade, and a 60.9 run-blocking grade. He has allowed two pressures, including a sack and a quarterback hit, and has not been flagged.
With Sam Cosmi back at right guard and Lucas Patrick starting at center, there just hasn’t been a lane for him to get back on the field.
Joshua Josephs had been trending up in playing time before the San Francisco game, then saw that momentum stall. He played 20 defensive snaps against the Giants, but only 13 against the 49ers, bringing him to 86 on the season.
PFF has him at 44.6 overall, down from 49.0 in the previous rankings update, and his pass-rush grade sits at 53.9 with just one pressure on 34 rush snaps. His 64.4 run-defense grade is better, but the pass-rush production that helped him stand out in the preseason still hasn’t shown up.
Even so, the volume of snaps keeps him moving up a spot.
Athan Kaliakmanis is still waiting for another chance. His only regular-season action came against Indianapolis, when he went 15-of-33 for 186 yards, a touchdown, and an interception after Marcus Mariota hurt his knee.
He was back on the sideline against San Francisco while Jayden Daniels played all 67 offensive snaps. Mariota has since returned to practice, which could push Kaliakmanis even farther from another opportunity.
For now, those 54 snaps in London are all there is to evaluate.
Tanoa Togiai remains on the active roster, but he still hasn’t taken a regular-season offensive snap. He was inactive again against San Francisco, and the most notable thing on his résumé remains making the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie. Until he gets on the field, there’s nothing new to sort through.
With Philadelphia coming to Washington on Sunday, the rookies will get another chance to change the conversation. For now, the pecking order is being set by opportunity, production, and the simple reality of who keeps getting on the field.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Face A Big Trade Deadline Decision At Wide Receiver
The Commanders are weighing whether to add a wide receiver before the NFL trade deadline on November 10, and ESPN has already put a few familiar names into the conversation. Jerry Jeudy of the Browns, Rashod Bateman of the Ravens and Chris Godwin of the Buccaneers all surfaced as possible targets, giving Washington a short list with very different price tags, fit questions and levels of realism.
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 🡒]
Commanders Enter Eagles Rematch With A Growing Receiver Concern
Stefon Diggs was back in full practice as the Commanders began sharpening their plan for a rematch with Philadelphia, a welcome sign for an offense trying to get healthier at the right time. Washington spent the bye week tweaking personnel groupings and defensive coordination, and the staff also brought in Wilks to help with game-planning, another sign this is a team trying to squeeze every edge out of the second meeting.
There is still some uncertainty in the receiver room, though, with Treylon Burks missing practice because of a foot injury and Terry McLaurin still on injured reserve. JerZhan Newtons 21-day practice window is open, but Washington still has to activate him before he can get back on the field, leaving the roster picture fluid as the Commanders wait to see which pieces are ready when the Eagles come back into view. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have A Real NFC East Opening Sunday Night
A Week 8 matchup on Sunday night has given Washington a real chance to alter the NFC East picture, with the playoff race tightening around a few key outcomes. The Commanders enter the game with their path still very much alive, and the stakes feel especially sharp because the articles broader look at the standings also puts Tampa Bay and Las Vegas into focus as teams trying to steady themselves in the same crowded postseason chase.
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 🡒]