The Washington Commanders entered Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints without two of their top four receivers. Running back Austin Ekeler landed on injured reserve after Week 12 with a concussion, while wide receiver Noah Brown was placed on IR on Saturday.
That left wide receiver Terry McLaurin and tight end Zach Ertz as Washington’s primary pass catchers.
McLaurin was phenomenal again, catching seven passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. He has 11 receiving touchdowns, second in the NFL to Ja’Marr Chase — with three games remaining.
Ertz made his presence felt on Sunday, too, making a beautiful one-handed catch, giving the Commanders a first-and-goal from the three-yard line. However, on the play, Ertz landed hard on the ground and slowly got up before entering the medical tent.
He was quickly ruled out with a concussion.
In the second half, starting safety Jeremy Chinn also departed the game with a concussion and did not return. Now, both key starters are in the NFL’s concussion protocol ahead of Washington’s important Week 16 showdown against the Eagles.
“Both Zach and Jeremy are in our concussion protocol, and so we’ll follow each step along the way,” Quinn said Monday.
Quinn was asked specifically about Ertz and if his absence changes the usage of specific players and formations.
“Yeah, as it goes you would, there’s a couple of ways to think about that,” Quinn continued. “It could be some of the big guy stuff in the run game, just like you suggested, which is definitely a viable plan. And then there’s also the other way, how do you incorporate the backs more they can get outside to move and different types of sets. So, some don’t include a tight end with two halfbacks in the game and three receivers. And so, utilizing different packages will be part of that.”
Ertz has been a safety valve for quarterback Jayden Daniels this season.
Chinn has started every game for Washington and is second on the team in tackles with 93, trailing only Bobby Wagner.
Losing either or both would severely limit the Commanders’ chances of upsetting the Eagles next week.