Commanders DT Phidarian Mathis making ‘great progress’ in return from knee injury

The Commanders have two talented young defensive tackles behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in Phidarian Mathis and John Ridgeway.

The Washington Commanders selected Alabama defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. Most believed Mathis was an eventual replacement for Daron Payne, who was scheduled to be a free agent in the 2023 offseason.

It didn’t help that there was the report around draft time that said the Commanders weren’t expected to offer Payne a long-term extension.

Do you think they regret that decision now?

Payne, only 25, is coming off a breakout season in which he tied the franchise record of 11.5 sacks by a defensive tackle and also finished No. 4 in the NFL in tackles for loss [18].

Meanwhile, Mathis injured his knee in the season opener against Jacksonville and was lost for the season. This was particularly troubling as the Commanders allowed Tim Settle to leave via free agency and cut Matt Ioannidis in a salary-cap move.

Fortunately for Washington, the Dallas Cowboys waived fifth-round pick John Ridgeway and the Commanders signed him to their active roster. The Cowboys were hoping to sneak him to the practice squad.

Ridgeway would prove to be a smart addition for Washington, spelling Payne and Jonathan Allen in 2022. The good news is that he and Mathis are under contract for the next three seasons on rookie deals.

What about Mathis’ injury?

It sure sounds like the 6-foot-4, 313-pounder is on the right track.

“I’ve been here the whole time,” Mathis said, per Zach Selby of commanders.com. “I trust the trainers in there. We’ve been making great progress.”

In spending the season rehabbing in Ashburn, Mathis said Washington’s training staff has been outstanding, helping him recover faster than he initially believed.

Mathis struggled after the injury, knowing he’d miss his entire rookie season after only a handful of plays. 

“It was very hard to take, a tough pill to swallow, for sure,” Mathis said. “The first couple of weeks, I was down, I was out, but I just put it in God’s hands and let him handle the rest.”

Depending on what happens with Payne, Mathis could be counted upon heavily in 2023. It’s something he’s ready for. 

“I’m gonna give it another try next year,” Mathis said. “I’m gonna come back even harder.”

Having Mathis and Ridgeway is good news for Washington — with or without Payne. Of course, Washington hopes Payne is back, but if he isn’t, the Commanders have two young defensive tackles ready for the opportunity.

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PFF names Jahan Dotson as Commanders’ early breakout candidate for 2023

Jahan Dotson looked like a future star at times in 2022.

The Washington Commanders moved back five spots in the 2023 NFL draft, adding additional selections before taking Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson at No. 16 overall.

Some criticized Washington for the pick, saying how could the Commanders pass on Chris Olave and Jameson Williams? Those who criticized the move had apparently never seen Dotson play.

Dotson jumped out of the gates fast in 2022. Dotson caught three passes for 40 yards and two touchdowns in his first NFL game. He was Pepsi NFL rookie of the week.

Unfortunately, Washington’s quarterbacks would struggle, and Dotson injured his hamstring in Week 4. He’d miss the next five games, and once he did return, it took him a few weeks to get acclimated again.

Dotson finished his rookie season with 35 receptions for 523 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns. Dotson’s numbers didn’t match other rookie receivers, but it is clear Dotson looks like a future star.

Pro Football Focus recently began looking ahead to 2023, naming one breakout player for all 32 teams. For the Commanders, that player was Dotson.

It’s not like rookie first-round pick Jahan Dotson was a secret in 2022 — he led the team in receiving touchdowns — but his contributions came in spikes rather than consistency throughout the season.

Dotson finished the season with three of his best games in the last month, including 2.2 yards per route run against the vaunted 49ers defense and 3.3 against the Cowboys.

While Washington’s quarterback situation for 2023 is uncertain for now, whoever starts under center will benefit with Dotson, Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel at wide receiver.

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Trevor Lawrence: ‘This is more the beginning than it is the end’

Trevor Lawrence said he’s equal parts crushed and equal parts proud after the Jaguars’ playoff loss.

A postseason loss is more devastating for some teams than others.

For a franchise with a tight championship window — whether that’s due to salary cap constraints or aging stars — a loss in the NFL Playoffs can be the catastrophic close to their chance at a Super Bowl win. That wasn’t the case for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, though.

“Equal parts crushed that we’re done playing, that the road ends for us here, and equal parts proud of what we did,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said after a 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “You work so hard to get here, nobody thought we’d be here – we had our shot and that’s what hurts.

“We’ll be back, I’m confident in that. This is more the beginning than it is the end of something. This is just getting started for us, we got a taste of it. Guys are already hungry to get this opportunity again.”

The Jaguars weren’t satisfied with just reaching the Divisional Round. The team was resolved to give the Chiefs its best shot, but failed to seize a few opportunities that could have turned the tide.

But it’s hard for the team to feel too upset about the loss given the optimism the 2022 season inspired. The Jaguars — fresh off finishing with the worst record in the NFL in back-to-back seasons — now have a franchise quarterback, a Coach of the Year candidate, and a bevy of promising, young players.

“Nobody expected us, the Jaguars, to be in this football game,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said after the loss. “I told them we are going to learn from this and grow from this. Our expectation is to be in these games every year. That is our expectation. This was a good first year for all of us.”

The Jaguars aren’t going anywhere.

Commanders TE Logan Thomas makes it clear he wants Taylor Heinicke back in 2023

Thomas explains why Heinicke is beloved by his teammates.

Logan Thomas will enter his fourth season in 2023 as the Washington Commanders starting tight end. In all likelihood, Thomas will be catching passes from a different quarterback in Week 1 for the fourth consecutive season.

In four seasons, Thomas has had eight starting quarterbacks for the Commanders. Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Dwayne Haskins, Taylor Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz and Sam Howell have all started at least one game for Washington over the past three seasons.

A former college quarterback, Thomas returned from a Dec. 2021 ACL injury to appear in 14 games last season. He caught 39 passes for 323 yards and one touchdown.

Last week, Thomas met with the media on locker cleanout day and was asked about Washington’s revolving quarterback door.

“Can’t be hard anymore if you’ve done it a bunch of times, right?” Thomas said while laughing.

He went on to discuss Howell, Heincke, or perhaps someone from the outside being Washington’s quarterback in 2023 and said the Commanders would be fine.

Thomas is known to be close friends with Heinicke, who happens to be a free agent this offseason. A reporter asked Thomas if he wanted Heinicke back next season.

“Damn right I do,” Thomas said with a smile. “Man, that’s my dawg. First and foremost, my best friend but [also] an incredible teammate. And a very good football player, as well.”

What makes Heinicke such a terrific teammate?

“I don’t think I have to say it; I think y’all have been around here enough to turn around and look and see how he interacts with everybody,” Thomas said. “To see how he gets along with people, just the smile that he brings to people’s faces. Watch the person that he’s talking to, and watch their face, and you’ll see how much they’re smiling and laughing. I think that’s a sign of who he is.”

After the Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner last week, they’re reportedly telling other teams that Howell will have every opportunity to win the starting job in 2023.

The biggest question is will it be Heinicke mentoring and pushing him?

If you’d ask every player on the team, including Howell, they’d likely all admit to wanting Heinicke to return in some form.

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The Commanders are one of four NFL teams who could be on Hard Knocks in 2023

Do you want to see the Commanders on Hard Knocks?

Hard Knocks began back in 2001 with the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore, coming off a Super Bowl win, had one of the best defensive teams in NFL history in 2000.

The series aired on HBO and worked in conjunction with NFL Films to produce a behind-the-scenes look at the Ravens in training camp.

The series took you through player cutdowns and always seemed to feature an underdog for the viewing audience to fall in love with.

The series has continued since that time, with several NFL teams participating. The Dallas Cowboys lead the way with three appearances.

One team that has never appeared on Hard Knocks is the Washington Commanders or either of their previous two team names. That could change in 2023, according to the NFL’s schedule aficionado on Twitter.

Head coach Ron Rivera doesn’t seem to be the type of coach who would like the cameras around all the time. But Washington could have a new owner this spring, adding even more intrigue to the Commanders as a possibility for Hard Knocks in 2023.

Which team would you find the most interesting of the four teams listed?

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Commanders’ 2023 opponents are set: Who will Washington face next season?

Washington finished .500 in 2022, yet will have a last-place schedule in 2023. Here’s a look at who the Commanders will face next season.

The Washington Commanders finished the 2022 NFL season with an 8-8-1 record. In many predictions and projections ahead of the season, most had Washington from anywhere between six and 10 wins. The low end of those predictions had more to do with the Commanders’ acquisition of quarterback Carson Wentz.

Wentz ended up starting seven games for the Commanders. Washington was 2-5 in those games. Taylor Heinicke was 5-3-1 in eight starts under center, while rookie Sam Howell was 1-0 after a Week 18 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

It will be another offseason of quarterback uncertainty for the Commanders.

Washington’s defense turned things around in 2022, finishing in the top five of multiple statistical categories. Defensive tackle Daron Payne enjoyed a breakout season and is now scheduled for unrestricted free agency.

Now that the season is over, we know who the Commanders will play in 2023. We just don’t know when, as the schedule release is still months away. The Commanders finished last in the NFC despite a .500 record, meaning they will play a last-place schedule in 2023. In addition, the Commanders will play the AFC East and NFC West teams as a part of the divisional rotation of games.

Here’s a look at Washington’s and away opponents for 2023.

Carson Wentz is playing for his NFL future over the final two weeks

Can Carson Wentz be a hero for the Commanders over the final two weeks?

Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz to end the 2022 NFL regular season a hero over the final two games.

Wentz replaced Taylor Heinicke as Washington’s starting quarterback last week, partly because of the Commanders’ recent offensive struggles. Heinicke’s turnovers over the past three games also became a problem for Rivera, leading him to give Wentz another shot.

Wentz started the first six games of the season with mixed results. Some of his old issues popped up, such as holding the ball too long, interceptions and negative plays in general. A fractured finger on his throwing hand in Week 6 forced him to injured reserve, giving Heinicke another chance as Washington’s starting quarterback.

Rivera made a decision weeks ago that Heinicke would remain as Washington’s starting quarterback but left the door open for a chance if Heinicke struggled. Over the last three games, Heinicke and the offense have left too many points on the field.

In last week’s loss to the 49ers, it felt like Rivera was looking for the right time to go back to Wentz. After back-to-back turnovers, Heinicke gave Rivera the perfect opportunity to make the switch.

The question now becomes, can Wentz lead the Commanders to the playoffs?

Rivera had at least two chances to answer if these final two regular-season games would go a long way in determining Wentz’s fate in 2023. Rivera declined, instead focusing on making the playoffs.

We named multiple reasons why Rivera went back to Wentz. Yes, this is about the playoffs and giving this team a shot in the arm over the final two weeks. And Rivera also knows that Wentz gives Washington its best chance at a passing game capable of throwing over 300 yards consistently.

However, this decision is also about 2023. Before Rivera went back to Heinicke, there was no question he wanted to see more of Wentz. No, this wasn’t about justifying his decision to trade for Wentz, but to see if bringing Wentz back at quarterback next season was a viable option. Based on his first six games, that answer was an easy no.

Now, Wentz has a chance to show Rivera and his teammates that he should be Washington’s starting quarterback in 2023. Not only do the Commanders need to see a strong performance from Wentz, but also how he handles the pressure of winning what is essentially two playoff games for Washington.

Let’s say Washington has already made a decision on Wentz; these next two games give Wentz a chance to show other quarterback-needy teams he can still play at a high level.

It’s doubtful the Commanders have made any 2023 decision regarding Wentz. They are intrigued by him and his ceiling, and the next two games are the perfect test.

If Washington decides to move on from Wentz, it can do so easily with no cap penalties. However, if Wentz plays to the level the Commanders believe he can, his chances to return next season improve dramatically, even if it means lowering his cap hit for 2023.

Can Carson Wentz be the hero Washington fans need over the final two weeks? This could be his last shot as a starting quarterback if he doesn’t deliver.

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What does the Commanders’ 2023 salary cap look like at the bye week?

Looking ahead at Washington’s 2023 salary cap and where the Commanders currently stand.

The Washington Commanders are 7-5-1 with four games remaining in the 2022 NFL season. Washington, winners of six of its last eight games, hosts the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 15.

Before we prepare for Washington’s stretch run to a potential playoff berth, let’s look at the Commanders’ salary-cap situation for 2023. Washington fans should expect another busy offseason with players such as Daron Payne, Taylor Heinicke and Cole Holcomb slated for free agency. There’s also the quarterback situation, which always seems to linger over Washington’s offseason.

We’ll go over potential quarterback options at a later time, but let’s look at where the Commanders stand currently. As of Week 14, Washington has $19.3 million in available cap space for 2023, which is No. 15 in the NFL. The Commanders have $14.2 million in dead money for 2023, thanks to the trade of William Jackson III and the release of Landon Collins.

Washington’s cap space includes quarterback Carson Wentz’s $26.2 million cap hit for 2023. If Washington moves on from Wentz, there is no penalty, and that adds to the team’s available cap space for 2023.

The expectation is the Commanders will move on from Wentz. While head coach Ron Rivera is interested in Wentz’s potential upside, he would likely only return on a reduced cap figure in 2023.

The biggest free-agent domino is Payne. The fifth-year defensive tackle is tied for second in the NFL — with teammate Jonathan Allen — with 15 tackles for loss. Payne has already set a career-high in sacks with 8.5.

If Washington places the franchise tag on Payne, he will cost $18.1 million against the cap. However, if the Commanders agree to a long-term deal with Payne, his cap charge will be significantly smaller in the first year of a new deal.

There are other cap hits on Washington’s roster that could either be restructured or released.

Regardless, general manager Martin Mayhew and Rivera will have the money to re-sign key players and fill some holes along the offensive line.

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Commanders use Taylor Heinicke’s image at FedEx Field in ads for 2023 season tickets

Taylor Heinicke is not under contract in 2023, while Carson Wentz is.

The Washington Commanders have five home games remaining for the 2022 regular season. However, that doesn’t mean the Commanders — and every other NFL team — aren’t already preparing for 2023.

The Commanders, advertising season tickets for 2023, used a curious image to promote those packages. Washington used a photo of quarterback Taylor Heinicke on the season-ticket promotion.

Nothing wrong with that, right? After all, Heinicke is the current starting quarterback, while Carson Wentz remains out with an injury.

What makes this curious is Heinicke isn’t under contract for 2023. Wentz, the injured starter who is eligible to return by Week 11, has two years remaining on his contract.

Was Washington telling us something with this advertisement?

Likely not.

Head coach Ron Rivera is the team’s head of football operations. He hired general manager Martin Mayhew. And it is doubtful that the business office checked with Rivera on whose picture to use in advertisements for season tickets.

Rivera has more important things to worry about than who buys season tickets.

As for Wentz, he was on the field before Washington’s Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings, testing his injured finger.

If Heinicke continues to play well, it’s unlikely Rivera will bench him when Wentz is ready to return.