The Washington Commanders head into their final preseason game Friday with more than just one more tune-up on the schedule. After the reports coming out of their joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, they’re also staring at a depth problem that goes well beyond the offensive line.
Dan Quinn’s team already has injuries to manage, and Wednesday in Baltimore reportedly only made the picture look worse. A week after Quinn said the Commanders were "in disarray" against the Detroit Lions, the Ravens appeared to have their way with Washington again. The offensive line drew plenty of heat, but the defensive front was every bit as troubling.
The edge-rusher situation is especially thin. Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson are both unavailable right now, and Washington is feeling that absence. Against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, the Commanders couldn’t get consistent pressure, which only sharpened the concern around a unit that was supposed to be stronger this season.
That leaves Washington leaning on Dorance Armstrong Jr., rookie fifth-round pick Joshua Josephs, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, D.J. Johnson, and T.J.
Maguranyanga. That’s not exactly a comforting rotation, though the Commanders can also shift players such as Charles Omenihu around if necessary.
It’s also why the addition of Boogie Basham doesn’t move the needle much. He’s there for camp depth, another body for preseason help, and probably not much more than that.
The broader issue is simple: the Commanders’ defensive front seven was supposed to be better, but that plan depends on staying healthy. Right now, they aren’t healthy enough, and that means the team may need outside help sooner rather than later.
That urgency matters because the regular season is close. In just over two weeks, Washington will be at Lincoln Financial Field to face the Eagles in a game that counts. At the moment, things already look like they’re starting to come apart.
There’s no assurance the players who are out now will be ready then, and even if they are, there’s the question of how sharp they’ll be. That’s why there’s still time for Washington to add veteran free agents at center and edge rusher who could get into game shape for Week 1 if needed. But the window is getting tight.
If the Commanders are going to shore up these spots, it has to happen now. Not later. Not after Friday.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Got An Early Opening In The NFC East
Training camp has already delivered an opening in the NFC East, and the Commanders have reason to notice. Philadelphias second-round pick Eli Stowers has had a rough summer and is now dealing with an injury that makes an inactive start to the season sound likely, a frustrating turn for a team that expected quick help from the draft. For Washington, any early uncertainty in Philadelphia matters, especially in a division where small edges can ripple quickly.
The Commanders have their own young names making a better first impression. Rookies Sonny Styles and Antonio Williams have shown promising early performance, giving Washington a bit of optimism as it works through its own offseason questions. It is still July and August, not September, but these are the kinds of developments that can shape how a division race feels before it truly begins. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders O-Line Struggles Just Reignited An Uncomfortable Center Debate
The Commanders offensive line was already under the microscope in joint practice with the Ravens, and the workout did not do much to quiet the concerns. Absences and inexperience showed up at key spots, leaving Washington searching for steadier answers up front as camp continues to sort out who can hold the middle together and who cannot.
Tyler Linderbaums name keeps hovering over that conversation, in part because of the long-running speculation that Washington had some sort of handshake understanding with him before he ultimately wound up with the Raiders on a record contract. None of that has been verified, and the Commanders have only confirmed the injuries and roster moves they have made, but the center debate has grown louder because the current alternatives have not done much to shut it down. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Could Have One Last Roster Surprise This Preseason
The final week of preseason often has a way of sorting out the edge cases on a roster, and Darius Rush is one of the Commanders players still trying to make his case. The former fifth-round cornerback has moved around since entering the league, and in Washington he has been mostly visible on special teams after signing a reserve/future contract.
Rush is not battling for a headline role so much as trying to carve out a niche that keeps him around when the roster decisions are made. His next chance comes in the preseason finale, where his play will be weighed with the rest of the group fighting for special teams jobs and one last possible surprise before the regular season arrives. [Read more 🡒]