The Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys might be out of the playoff picture, but don’t let the standings fool you-this Christmas Day clash still carries weight. Anytime these two NFC East rivals line up, pride is on the line, and this one’s no different, even if postseason hopes are officially off the table.
When the Commanders take the field at Northwest Stadium, they’ll be looking to flip the script from Week 7, when Dallas handed them a 44-22 loss. That game wasn’t just a lopsided score-it was a gut punch that stuck with Washington. And while both teams are now playing for evaluation, development, and yes, a little bit of redemption, don’t underestimate the competitive fire that still burns in these locker rooms.
Washington comes into the matchup riding a rough stretch-nine losses in their last 10 games. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are trying to halt a three-game skid of their own. So while the postseason may be out of reach, both squads have plenty of motivation to finish strong and set a tone heading into the offseason.
The Commanders will be without their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who remains sidelined after being ruled out for the season last week. He’s still been active in practice settings, which is why he hasn’t been placed on injured reserve, but he won’t suit up for this one.
His absence, combined with injuries to backup Marcus Mariota-who’s dealing with both hand and quad issues-means veteran Josh Johnson gets the nod under center. Johnson, who’s played for more teams than most quarterbacks can name, will lead the offense, while recent signing Jeff Driskel steps in as the backup.
Rookie Sam Hartman, elevated to the 53-man roster, will serve as the emergency third quarterback.
Washington’s injury report doesn’t stop there. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive tackle Daron Payne, and linebacker Nick Bellore are all inactive. That’s a significant chunk of veteran leadership and talent missing on both sides of the ball, especially with Tunsil anchoring the offensive line and Payne being a key disruptor up front.
Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was also a late scratch due to illness, thinning out the backfield rotation even further.
Here’s the full list of Commanders inactives for Week 17:
- QB Jayden Daniels
- QB Marcus Mariota
- T Laremy Tunsil
- DT Daron Payne
- LB Nick Bellore
- QB Sam Hartman (emergency 3rd QB)
- RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (illness)
As for Dallas, the Cowboys' inactives were also announced, but the real story here is how both teams respond in a game that, while meaningless in the standings, still carries emotional and evaluative weight. For young players looking to make their mark and veterans fighting to finish strong, this is a chance to put something good on tape-and maybe, for Washington, a little revenge too.