As a fourth-round pick, rookie Jaylin Lane probably didn't expect to become a leading wide receiver for the Washington Commanders just 10 weeks into his professional football career.

With injuries piling up on all sides of the ball, Lane's role within the offense has changed week-to-week depending on available personnel. The fourth-round pick now finds himself as the No. 2 wide reciever on the depth chart ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Detroit Lions.

"It's always the next man up mentality, and I'm just trying to continue to elevate my play each and every week so there's no drop-off from the top down," Lane said.

Although the Commanders refute the idea that injuries are the main reason behind the team's four-game skid, it's certainly not easy seeing teammates go down week after week.

"It hurts to see one of your brothers go down," Lane said of the injuries. "I don't want to say it's a mind shift; we've just got to continue to go out there and play harder for them, things like that."

"You know, just the ones before that and all the other guys, it's just like, 'Jesus, like can we catch a break?'" Samuel added. "It's kind of like the injury bug but with this game comes that so we've kind of just got to take it on the chin and next man up mentality."

Despite the team's 3-6 record, Samuel still has hope the Commanders can, and will, turn things around. Among other veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner and quarterback Marcus Mariota, Samuel has been on a team that has climbed back from similar deficits to make a late, strong run.

"I don't like to revert back to the team I played with, but I've been on a team that started 3-5 and made the NFC Championship," Samuel said of his 2021 season with the San Francisco 49ers. "I still have all the belief in the world in this team that we can turn it around and get going. We've got to continue to come out there with great energy, practice well, and just bring each other along. We're still capable of winning. We're still capable of doing the things that we set out to do."

Believing, however, is easier said than done. Washington currently has 11 players on Injured Reserve, which doesn't include McLaurin (quad) or quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow), who are both sidelined indefinitely. In Week 9 alone, the Commanders lost McCaffrey (collarbone) and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ACL) to injury, as well as their starting quarterback.

"You can't let it kind of mess with your mental, your mind," safety Quan Martin said. "Hate to see guys go down, hate to see guys get injured. It's a physical, violent game and things are going to happen to you on the field. It's next man up and I pray for all of my brothers that are down right now and are trying to get back. It's tough man, but we need to keep going."

Wagner agrees with Martin that the team needs to play with passion and for something greater than themselves. The worst thing a player or team can do in a situation that puts their backs against the wall is self-pity, according to Wagner. The other key to staying motivated toward success is a mentality focused on what can be changed, rather than what can't.

"I think a lot of that is just your mentality," Wagner said. "That's the easy way to go, is to say, 'why me?' The harder way is to just keep your head up and figure out how you can make the most of the situation so that's what my energy is toward and that's what I believe."

Helping Wagner and the Commanders to stay positive amid injuries is confidence both inside and outside of the locker room.

"Just the players believing, the coaches believing, the city believing," Wagner said of keeping a positive mentality. "A lot of it is just belief and doing the work. A lot of times work takes care of a lot of stuff."

Head coach Dan Quinn's Friday morning announcement that Daniels will not be placed on Injured Reserve and did not suffer any fractures or ligament tears that require surgery in the dislocation of his non-throwing elbow is also a morale boost for the locker room. Not only does it keep the fanbase invigorated with the hope that Daniels could return at some point later this season but also gives the locker room a boost knowing they have something bigger to play for each week.

Although he won't be taking the field Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Daniels has been sitting in on meetings and interacting with teammates. Similarly, defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., who suffered a season-ending quad injury in Week 2, has been hanging out in the locker room. Their presence in and around the locker room is a reminder for the team to keep pushing and keep believing.

"I think for all of us, we want to make sure Jayden understands that those things are out of your control," Mariota said. "Focus on getting healthy, getting right and everything else will take care of itself.

"He's the face of the franchise, and the more that we can get him healthy, get him ready to go, it'll be good for everybody."

While Daniels focuses on rehab and getting healthy, Washington is looking to get back on track and continue to push toward a playoff spot. The first step toward that goal is a win over Detroit. As Mariota and Quinn point out, it's important to remember that every run begins with one win. A sense of urgency is necessary, however, focusing on one game at a time is crucial to the Commanders' success as they navigate injuries.

"We understand that being out here, taking it one day at a time, getting things corrected, getting things organized, making sure everyone's on the same page so that when we do get to Sunday, guys are feeling confident and ready to go," Mariota said.