Deatrich Wise Jr. didn’t make the loudest noise in the Commanders’ return to action, but he might have made one of the most useful ones.
While quarterback Jayden Daniels’ comeback drew the spotlight, Wise quietly handled a far different kind of return: his first game in more than a year. For Washington, that mattered.
The veteran defensive lineman had been sidelined since Week 2 last year against the Green Bay Packers, when he suffered a torn quad. He missed all of Washington’s summer preparations, too, but the Commanders stuck with him.
That patience may already be paying off.
Washington eased him back in, and for good reason. Wise was on the field for 35 snaps, or 39 percent of the team’s total workload, and he finished with three tackles.
That alone was a solid first step. But the real value came in the work that didn’t show up in the box score.
Wise, the 2017 fourth-round pick out of Arkansas, was steady setting the edge against the run, particularly in the first half. That has long been one of his calling cards, and it was on display again here. He made life difficult for running back Cam Skattebo and helped Washington close off lanes behind its 3-4 front, a key part of the team’s early success.
The performance faded a bit as the game went on, which wasn’t surprising. Getting healthy is one thing; getting back into football shape is another. After that much time away, fatigue was always going to be part of the equation.
Still, this was about as encouraging a re-entry as Washington could have asked for. Wise has one more game to get through before the bye week, giving him another chance to build up his conditioning and get closer to full form.
Once that happens, it would be a surprise if he doesn’t end up playing a meaningful role as the season moves forward.
The Commanders have options on the edge, but Wise may be their best run defender in that area. He can also line up as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 3-4 defensive end, a useful wrinkle in coordinator Daronte Jones’ creative scheme.
There may be some physical limits at this stage of his career, but the long layoff could work in his favor, too. He should be relatively fresh, and the power and explosiveness still appear to be there. As he shakes off the rust and gets his football legs back, his impact should grow.
For a Commanders team looking for any positive sign it can get, Wise’s return fits the bill.
His experience, leadership, and ability to contribute when needed will matter. And for a team that leans on its veterans, the return of the Super Bowl winner is exactly the kind of boost that counts.
The performance didn’t get much attention, but it should have. Wise showed he still belongs, and Washington’s defensive plans are better for it.
In Other News...
Commanders Head Into 49ers Test With One Costly Problem Up Front
The Commanders head into Monday Night Football against the 49ers still trying to steady themselves after the tie with the Giants, and the biggest concern is not hard to spot. Up front, injuries have forced Washington into a thinner lineup than it wanted, with Chris Paul stepping in on the offensive line while Laremy Tunsil remains out, leaving the unit shorthanded at a time when it needs to be at its cleanest.
Paul has been asked to carry more than the Commanders likely expected, and the results have been uneven enough to keep the issue front and center as the matchup with San Francisco approaches. With little proven depth available behind him, Washington does not have many easy answers if the line continues to wobble, which makes this a problem the team may have to manage rather than solve right away. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Cross Gives Commanders Defense A Needed Lift At The Right Time
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The timing matters even more with Monday night preparation ramping up and the 49ers next on the schedule. Crosss return should give the Commanders a steadier presence on the back end, and it comes after a stretch that included an overnight hospital stay following the Cowboys game, a reminder of just how much has gone into getting him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Are Already Facing A Brutal Injury Toll This Early
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What makes the situation sting is that the loss is not just about bodies, but about high-end talent disappearing from the lineup at the exact moments Washington needed stability. When a team is already near the top of the league in value lost and still has more projected damage ahead, it becomes more than a short-term setback. It turns into a season-defining problem, with the Commanders now forced to piece together answers while waiting to see how much more of the roster they can reasonably get back. [Read more 🡒]