The Commanders are walking into their Week 3 home opener with a problem that’s been staring them in the face for two weeks: the secondary has been getting picked apart. Now they’re about to face the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, and they’ll have to do it without Jayden Daniels.
If Washington could pluck one Seahawk for this matchup, the answer is pretty clear: Devon Witherspoon.
That choice makes sense given how rough things have looked on the back end for the Commanders in 2026. Mike Sainristil and Rasul Douglas have both struggled, and the numbers tell the story.
Through two games, Washington has allowed 448 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns, while giving up 8.6 yards per passing play. That’s a defense getting stressed vertically and not finding answers.
Witherspoon, meanwhile, has already built a reputation as the kind of corner quarterbacks don’t want to test. The fifth overall pick in 2023 was ranked by Pro Football Focus as its top cornerback ahead of the 2026 season, with other outlets placing him in the top five as well. In 2025, he backed that up with an 83.6 coverage grade and a 90.1 run-defense grade from PFF, which tied for the best among qualifying cornerbacks.
Washington’s current corners have not come close to that standard. PFF tagged Sainristil as the worst-graded defensive player overall in Week 1 with a 29.9 grade, and while he improved to 50.1 in Week 2, the overall picture still isn’t encouraging. Douglas posted a 58.7 in Week 1 and a 49.4 in Week 2, leaving the Commanders thin at a spot where they can’t afford weakness.
The Cowboys exposed that quickly, with CeeDee Lamb piling up 153 receiving yards and Dallas scoring four passing touchdowns. That’s the kind of damage Washington can’t let happen again, especially with Daniels out and the defense needing to hold up.
Of course, stealing Witherspoon isn’t actually on the table. And if Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets rolling at home in Week 3, especially with Sam Darnold back on the field, the Commanders could be in for another long afternoon.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Terry McLaurin Problem They Cant Ignore
Terry McLaurins opening to the 2026 season has been quieter than anyone in Washington expected, with the veteran wideout managing only four catches for 64 yards through two games. The early numbers are jarring, especially for a receiver who has long been one of the Commanders most dependable weapons, but McLaurin has brushed off the slow start and said he trusts his process.
The concern for Washington is that the quarterback situation only makes the margin for error smaller. Jayden Daniels is dealing with a dislocated left elbow, and while McLaurin has experience working with backup Marcus Mariota, the Commanders still need their top target to find a rhythm quickly if the passing game is going to hold together through a shaky stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Just Put Washington In A Tough Spot
Jayden Daniels left elbow injury has already changed the Commanders early-season plans, and not in a small way. After dislocating it in Week 2, the rookie quarterback will miss Week 3 and likely Week 4, leaving Washington to move forward with Marcus Mariota expected to start while the team tries to dig out of an 0-2 start.
What makes this situation harder is Daniels decision to avoid surgery and try the nonsurgical route in hopes of getting back this season. It is a choice that has prompted criticism from multiple NFL executives, who worry about the risks to his long-term health and financial future, and it leaves Washington hoping the short-term gamble does not become something more complicated as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Home Opener Brings One Real Chance To Stop This Slide
The home opener arrives with an unusual kind of urgency in Washington, where the Commanders are already staring at their first real checkpoint of the season. After losing Jayden Daniels, the offense has shifted to Marcus Mariota, and the pressure on the rest of the roster has only grown as the team looks for its first win of the year in Week 3 against Seattle.
For a defense that has talked about needing to create more disruption, this matchup offers a chance to help change the tone. The Seahawks bring their own uncertainty at quarterback because of Sam Darnolds injury, which gives Washington an opening to lean on pressure, chase turnovers and maybe finally give the home crowd something to build around. [Read more 🡒]