The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders have returned to their facility following the bye week ready to finish the final six weeks of the regular season. Here are some of the top storylines for the rest of the year.
Jayden Daniels' health
Although the Commanders have endured injuries to several players, none have been as consequential as that of Daniels, who has been sidelined with a left elbow issue sustained in the final minutes of the game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Commanders have not revealed much about the injury, but what we do know is positive, given how the injury looked at the time. Daniels did not suffer any ligament damage from the injury and is just dealing with a dislocation, which ruled out surgery and allowed the Commanders to hold off on putting him on the Injured Reserve list for now. Head coach Dan Quinn said the team would wait until after the bye week to make any further assessments.
Now that the bye week has come and gone, Daniels' health and possible return will grab even more attention. Quinn said during his press conference before the bye week that the rehab portion of Daniels' "return to play" process is going well but didn't provide a timeframe on the quarterback's return.
There are several factors at play when it comes to Daniels potentially returning at some point in the next six weeks, but the most important is him getting fully healthy and being able to perform all the necessary duties for the position. Assuming that happens, it may be beneficial to get Daniels some reps at the end of the year to try and end things on a positive note.
Can the defense improve?
The Commanders' defense wasn't perfect against the Miami Dolphins in Quinn's first game calling the plays this season but did show noticeable improvement in coverage, shoring up rushing lanes and putting pressure on the quarterback. The Dolphins' 311 yards were the fewest the Commanders had given up since Week 1, and the two goal line stands helped give the team a chance to pull out a win in regulation.
The Commanders will need their defense to build on that performance if they hope to keep their season alive for the final six games, and there is still plenty for the unit to work on. The lack of turnovers is near the top of that list, as the Commanders have generated just six takeaways all season. They have recovered just one fumble -- tied with the Jets and Cincinnati Bengals for the fewest in the league.
The Commanders' struggles to contain explosive plays also continue to be a nagging problem for the defense. The Dolphins picked up 48 yards on three plays in Madrid and had seven other plays in the game go for at least 10 yards. De'Von Achane was kept out of the end zone but still put up 165 total yards.
The Commanders are not going to give up the season with six games left, but with three of their final opponents all vying for playoff contention and possessing potent offenses, they will need their defense to show some sort of improvement to stay competitive.
Can the Commanders get some of their weapons back?
Daniels isn't the only player Commanders fans are hoping to get an update on this week. The offense has multiple players, ranging from Terry McLaurin to Treylon Burks, all recovering from various injuries. Some of them could be coming back as soon as this week, but like Daniels' situation, Quinn said the team would wait until after the break to make further assessments on their statuses.
Of the Commanders players who have missed time this season and are able to return, McLaurin is the most notable. McLaurin suffered a quad injury in Week 3 and didn't return until Week 8, when he re-aggravated the injury in the second half. It's been a frustrating stretch for the wideout, who has long since been the offense's most reliable weapon. Although not on the IR list, there isn't a timeframe for his return. The hope is that he can come back to provide either Daniels or Marcus Mariota with another option in the passing game.
McLaurin is one of several receivers working to get back on the field. Noah Brown, who was placed on IR with a knee and groin injury, has played in two games this year. Burks had finger surgery, which forced him to miss the trip to Spain, but the procedure isn't considered to be a long-term problem.
On defense, the Commanders have more concrete timelines for two players: safety Will Harris and Drake Jackson. Harris fractured his fibula in Week 3, while Jackson was placed on IR days after signing with the team earlier this season. Both players are in their 21-day windows to return to the active roster and could be activated in the coming weeks.
A difficult final stretch
The Commanders' postseason hopes are not completely gone, but the path to keeping them alive is one of the most precarious in the league.
Washington will start their final stretch by hosting the Denver Broncos, who are currently sitting in the No. 2 spot in the AFC and tied for the second-best record in the NFL. The Broncos have one of the best defenses in football, despite cornerback Patrick Surtain being on IR, while their offense has the No. 11 rushing attack. What's more, the Commanders must play the Philadelphia Eagles twice and the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day.
The Commanders will likely need to win out and get some help from other teams losing to sneak into the playoffs. It isn't impossible for this to happen, but several things need to swing in the Commanders' favor. Daniels, as well as some of their other injured players, would need to come back. The defense would need to string together performances closer to what it showed against the Dolphins and generate more turnovers.
That won't be an easy task, but it would at least improve the odds of turning around what has been a frustrating season.
