Baltimore might prefer to retain every proven weapon in hopes of salvaging an injury-ravaged season, but Andrews is no longer the steady playmaker that he once was, and Isaiah Likely is already here as the future at tight end. Andrews is also set to become a free agent after the season, meaning both sides could benefit from an early split. He'd make for a nice secondary outlet for a contender.
The bigger issue, though, is a defense that has looked old and slow. No one is off the hook, not even the Commanders' most trusted veteran leader. Bobby Wagner is a future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the most significant catalysts behind the Commanders' culture shift under head coach Dan Quinn. He's still having a productive season in 2025 on the surface, ranking second in the NFL in tackles with 73 while adding two sacks.
Deatrich Wise Jr. and breakout star Dorance Armstrong Jr. - the team's starting defensive end tandem - have been ruled out for the season. Javontae Jean-Baptiste is also on injured reserve, leaving the Commanders with Von Miller, Jacob Martin, and Preston Smith as their three options currently. Even Drake Jackson was stashed on injured reserve immediately after signing to continue his recovery from a serious knee problem.
Rivera spent draft picks and money on free agents to solve his quarterback conundrum. None of those worked, and there was also an ill-advised trade to acquire Carson Wentz to factor in. This reeked of desperation at the time, and it went just as badly as fans expected. Wentz struggled to build momentum, and injuries didn't help. He lasted just one season in Washington before they cut the cord.
What was already a sizable list of injuries for the Commanders now includes star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will miss at least Washington's next contest against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football with a low-grade hamstring strain. Still, injuries are no excuse for a team that entered the campaign with high hopes for another deep playoff run after last year's NFC Championship game appearance. Everyone must be better, and there are far too many players who are simply underachieving.
Jeremy Chinn was tailor-made for Dan Quinn's schematic concepts. He was fast, physical, and instinctive. There were times when he struggled in coverage, but even this area of his game improved as the campaign progressed. Washington gave Chinn a chance to resurrect his career on a one-year deal after things fizzled out with the Carolina Panthers. He looked like a player reborn, gaining 117 tackles throughout a season that finally put him back on the map.
Adam Peters was aggressive last season, trading for veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore with the team sitting at 7-2 with a real chance to make an impact in the playoffs. That is not the case this time around. The Commanders are 3-4 with a brutal stretch of games upcoming. Peters could stand pat, which is the most likely scenario. He's spent a lot with mixed success.
It didn't take long to realize what Peters thought of the roster that Ron Rivera left behind. The front-office leader gutted the personnel - dismissing everyone from established veterans to recent draft picks - to revitalize how this football operation was run. Some decisions were easier than others. Letting Kamren Curl walk was the most contentious, and this regret is only growing when one considers how Washington's safeties are currently finding life difficult.
The Washington Commanders' defense is coming in for severe criticism right now. Things are just not clicking, and their lack of explosiveness is becoming increasingly apparent. That's a dangerous combination, and coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is feeling the wrath of fans' frustrations. Whitt is a good coach. He's a no-nonsense character who is a straight-shooter both with the players and the media. However, his scheme is facing criticism for its inability to adapt, particularly with the coverage deployment that isn't yielding the expected results.
Terry McLaurin will be missing his fourth-straight game with a quad/hip injury. Quinn was optimistic about his chances of getting back into the fold to start the week, but that hope quickly diminished. This is becoming a significant problem, raising the question of why the former Ohio State standout wasn't placed on injured reserve. That was also the case with Noah Brown, who hasn't been seen since Week 2's loss to the Green Bay Packers.
