The Washington Commanders are walking into a Sunday matchup that suddenly looks a lot bigger on paper. The Los Angeles Rams just added Myles Garrett in the trade of the offseason, and if Garrett is active, Washington will be the first team to see him lined up alongside Aaron Donald.
That alone would make for a brutal assignment. But the Commanders have shown enough fight to believe they can make life uncomfortable for top teams.
They already knocked off the Seahawks in Week 3, pushed the 49ers in a narrow loss before their bye, and came back last weekend with a messy win over the Eagles. The record is still ugly at 2-4-1, but they’ve at least proven they can hang around.
The Rams come in at 4-4 and have won two straight for the first time this season, but they still haven’t fully convinced anyone they’re operating at full strength or with total rhythm. Even with the Garrett move, this is a team trying to reassert itself after losing ground to the Seahawks in the NFC West.
Washington knows this version of the Rams well enough to understand what’s coming. Aaron Donald has been part of the picture for years, and he hasn’t missed a Rams game against Washington despite spending the 2024 and ’25 seasons in a brief retirement. His last meeting with the Commanders came in a 28-20 Los Angeles win that sat right in the middle of Washington’s eight-game losing streak to end the ’23 season, a stretch that eventually led to Sam Howell being replaced by Jayden Daniels.
There’s another familiar face on the Rams’ side, too: Emmanuel Forbes. The former Washington first-round cornerback has carved out rotational work in Los Angeles, and he could be asked to do more on Sunday with Jaylen Watson out because of a shoulder injury and Trent McDuffie questionable with a back injury.
Garrett’s status is the headline, and Sean McVay said Friday he expects him to play Sunday. Garrett was quiet in his Los Angeles debut and said his knee bothered him against San Francisco. The five-time first-team All-Pro had surgery after that game and hasn’t played since.
For Washington, the biggest question is whether Daniels can keep doing what he’s done since returning from a multi-week absence with a dislocated elbow. In three starts back, he has averaged 284 combined passing and rushing yards per game, completed 62 of 94 passes for 66%, and still hasn’t turned the ball over this season. He’s had a few dicey downfield moments, but the production has been there, and so has the ability to keep drives alive.
That matters because the Commanders are still dealing with a battered offense. They remain without Laremy Tunsil, Terry McLaurin is out for the year, and Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown are also out Sunday. That leaves Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams as the only available Washington receivers who have caught a pass this season.
Daniels will need to keep the offense afloat against a Rams front that can attack from multiple angles. If Garrett forces him to climb the pocket, Donald can squeeze the middle and speed up the decision. That sets up a duel with Matthew Stafford, who has never lost to Washington in six career meetings and brings a proven connection with Puka Nacua into the matchup.
Washington’s defense has been aggressive and opportunistic, especially against the run and screen game, and the front seven just showed what it can do in the win over Philadelphia, when five different defenders recorded sacks. The Commanders also blitz at the NFL’s fourth-highest rate, and Stafford’s four interceptions against the blitz are tied for the league lead.
Still, there’s no hiding from the challenge. Stafford has carved up Washington before, and the Rams are dangerous enough to test every weak point the Commanders have. That includes the middle of the field, where opposing quarterbacks are likely to challenge Washington more than they have in recent weeks.
One area that could matter if the game tightens up: Los Angeles’ kicking game has been shaky all season. The Rams are just 7-for-11 on field goals, which ranks last in the NFL at 63.6%.
The Rams are loaded and difficult to prepare for, especially with Garrett expected back. But Washington has already shown it can make things interesting against elite opponents, and Daniels gives them a real chance to do it again if they can avoid the self-inflicted mistakes that keep haunting them.
In Other News...
Myles Garrett Puts Rams Defensive Momentum To The Test Sunday
Brandon Colemans latest test comes with the kind of edge rush challenge that can change a game plan before it even settles in. The Commanders have leaned on the rookie tackle in a spot where every snap matters, and now he gets a look at Myles Garrett, whose presence alone forces offenses to account for the edge differently. For Washington, this is less about one isolated matchup than about whether Coleman can hold up when the pressure is coming from the leagues most disruptive pass rushers.
The timing makes it even more interesting because the Commanders are trying to keep their offensive rhythm intact while juggling the usual Week 9 injury and strategy questions. Colemans performance against Garrett could shape how much Washington can trust its protection on the perimeter, and that has obvious ripple effects for the rest of the offense. If the tackle can steady the edge, it gives the Commanders a chance to stay on schedule, but if not, Sunday could turn into a long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk May Have Cost Himself A Real Shot With Washington
Brandon Aiyuks NFL future remains unsettled after he applied for reinstatement and met with the 49ers, who have already signaled they do not plan to bring him back. For Washington, the interest had at least been easy enough to understand. Aiyuk has wanted to play for the Commanders, and on paper a receiver of his talent would fit any team trying to keep pace in a loaded NFC.
The problem is that his path to Washington appears to have been damaged long before this latest round of uncertainty. Insider Jeremy Fowler said a past social media incident seriously hurt Aiyuks chances with the Commanders, and the relationship now looks difficult to repair. With his next landing spot still unclear, Washington may be one of the teams that once made sense but no longer does. [Read more 🡒]
Rachaad White Has A Chance To Change Washingtons Trade Deadline Plans
Rachaad White has suddenly become a key figure in Washingtons plans at running back, and the timing matters with Jacory Croskey-Merritt on injured reserve and the NFL trade deadline approaching. White has handled the lead role for the Commanders, and while his overall production has been limited, there have been signs lately that he can give the offense something steadier than it has had for much of the season.
The most encouraging stretch came in recent games, including a strong showing against the Los Angeles Rams, which gave Washington at least a little reason to pause before looking outside the roster. The Commanders are still evaluating whether the current group can do enough to keep the backfield from becoming a deadline priority, and Whites next few outings could go a long way toward shaping whether the front office feels pressure to add help. [Read more 🡒]