The Washington Commanders have had a rough stretch, and the week only got messier after the loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Terry McLaurin is done for the season.
Daron Payne went down Friday with a “ significant ” injury. And in the middle of all that, the team has adjusted the role of defensive consultant Steve Wilks.
Wilks was brought in to give the defense another set of eyes and help with game planning, originally as a part-time addition who would not be on the sideline for games. That changed quickly. By Thursday, it was clear he would be on the sideline for Sunday night’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones said that gives him more room to handle other duties.
“It definitely does free me up in certain ways and just still manufacturing, working through how exactly we wanna disperse that, the workspace,” Jones said. “So, we’re still working through those a little bit.”
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Friday that Wilks will be on the sideline this week, though not necessarily every week. Quinn said, “He’ll be on the sideline this week,” and added, “As an addition, coaches, players, we’ve enjoyed connecting with him.
His heavy lifting is normally Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. And when the schedule allows it, there’ll be some times that he can come back for some games.
This is one of those weeks."
Wilks brings a long résumé to the table. He has been a head coach with the Cardinals, served as an interim coach for the Panthers, and has also had multiple runs as an NFL defensive coordinator. Quinn also pointed to how much the players have enjoyed working with him.
That sentiment showed up again when Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic spoke with several Washington defensive backs. Cornerback Trey Amos said, “He’s helped us a lot..... He’s done a lot.”
Cornerback Amik Robertson echoed that with, “Very helpful..... He’s been very helpful for us.”
Safety Quan Martin kept it simple: “He’s helped a lot...... I think it’s good for us.”
For a defense dealing with plenty of moving parts, that kind of feedback stands out. Now the Commanders will find out whether Wilks’ presence translates onto the field Sunday night against the Eagles.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Face A Big Trade Deadline Decision At Wide Receiver
The wide receiver market is starting to loom over Washington as the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 approaches, and the Commanders are at least being linked to a move that could help deepen their passing game. ESPN has put three names in the conversation: Clevelands Jerry Jeudy, Baltimores Rashod Bateman and Tampa Bays Chris Godwin, giving the front office a short list of options with very different levels of appeal.
Each candidate comes with a different type of fit and a different level of realism, which is what makes this such a tricky decision for Washington. Bateman appears to be the cleanest match for what the Commanders might want, while Godwin is the most complicated swing of the group because of his injury history and age, leaving the team to weigh upside against the kind of certainty it can actually get before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Trade Debate Just Got Real On The Offensive Line
Washingtons offensive line has been a point of concern this season, with the unit sitting 20th in the NFL by PFFs grading. That backdrop is what makes the latest trade chatter worth watching, because any move up front would be aimed at stabilizing a group that has not consistently given the offense the kind of protection and flexibility it needs.
ESPN has floated the Commanders as a possible landing spot for New Orleans guard Cesar Ruiz, a player whose appeal goes beyond one spot on the interior. Ruiz brings the kind of versatility teams covet along the line, and a deal would make sense on paper for both sides, but for now it remains only a projection rather than an actual transaction. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Season Could Decide How Soon Laremy Tunsil Returns
Laremy Tunsils road back to the field is still in the early stages, but there is at least some encouraging news for the Commanders. The veteran left tackle tore his triceps in training camp and had surgery, leaving Washington to move forward without one of its biggest offseason additions while he works through the rehab process.
Dan Quinn said Tunsil is still a few weeks away from his next medical check to see how the healing is progressing, and the signs so far have been described as on track. Even so, whether Tunsil plays again this season may end up depending as much on where the Commanders stand in the standings as on the next round of evaluations. [Read more 🡒]