With Noah Brown out, the Commanders added a veteran replacement.
The Washington Commanders will likely be without wide receiver Noah Brown for the rest of the season. On Wednesday, head coach Dan Quinn informed the media that Brown suffered a serious injury in the Week 13 win over the Titans and will be out for “a while.”
“He’s going to be out for a while, and so he had a significant internal injury from the game,” Quinn said of Brown. After expressing how much the team would miss Brown, Quinn acknowledged he’d likely be out for the remainder of the season.
So, in another move, Washington claimed wide receiver K.J. Osborn off waivers. Osborn, 27, was released by the New England Patriots on Tuesday. Osborn signed with the Patriots in March after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings.
Osborn appeared in seven games for the Patriots this season, catching seven passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. However, the 2020 fifth-round pick from the University of Miami (Fla.) was coming back three consecutive productive seasons with the Vikings, where he caught 50, 60, 48 passes, respectively. He has 16 career touchdowns.
In his first two NFL seasons, Osborn had some experience returning punts and kickoffs for the Vikings.
After the addition of Osborn, Brown likely heads to injured reserve. This means more opportunities for players such as Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, and Olamide Zaccheaus.
But, with Osborn, he gives the Commanders some experienced depth and a player that has been productive recently in the NFL.
Tough injury news for the Commanders ahead of Week 15.
The Washington Commanders are coming off a much-needed bye week. After 13 consecutive games without a break, the Commanders had Week 14 off before returning to play in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.
Unfortunately, head coach Dan Quinn had some bad news ahead of Wednesday’s practice. Starting wide receiver Noah Brown suffered an injury against Tennessee and will be out “for a while.”
According to Quinn, Brown suffered a “significant internal injury.” Brown left the Week 13 game due to a rib injury.
Brown is third on Washington in targets (56), receptions (35) and receiving yards (453). He’s averaging 12.9 yards per reception and has played in 56% of the Commanders’ offensive snaps this season.
Brown was signed just before the season after the Houston Texans surprisingly released him. The 28-year-old Brown immediately made his present felt for Washington and is best remembered for his ‘Hail Mary’ touchdown reception to defeat the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Quinn expressed confidence in the other receivers. The Commanders need someone to step up opposite Terry McLaurin, with rookie Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown all likely to receive even more playing time in the coming weeks. Washington also opened the 21-day practice window for veteran wideout Jamison Crowder, who has been on injured reserve for much of the season.
Brown was not ruled out for the season, but it appears to be a season-ending injury with only four weeks remaining in the regular season.
Dan Quinn is focused on this week — and this week only.
Dan Quinn is such a patient man with the press.
Monday, Quinn was again before the press after a bye week. He had taken several questions, answering the questions focusing on the process of work, habits, culture, and this week’s opponent, the New Orleans Saints.
Then Scott Abraham (Washington’s ABC7) asked, “To your point of enjoying the process of winning, in its simplest form right now, your team controls its own destiny.”
That’s true, the Commanders are in the seventh seed spot in the playoff race. Win out, and they are in.
Abraham continued, “Do you emphasize that to your players, ‘Hey, the ball is in our court,’ and how exciting is that to be in this position?”
Without hesitation, Quinn responded, “Scott, you must have just logged on. There is zero chance we are talking about four weeks down the road.” Quinn then laughed so as not to make it too stern of a rebuke.
Going a step further, Quinn reached out in friendship, “But what I can tell you my friend, is that we really try to stay into the here and now. Honestly, what I talked about with the team was a concept of base camp. We are not at the bottom, but we’re no where near the summit. You just try to get to the next camp and then the next one.”
“So, if we continue to chase that, Scott, that’s where it’s at for us.”
“So, for us this week, we’re going to constantly chase, can we get better, and do everything we need to do to get ready for New Orleans?”
“The following week, we will do the same. I try to make it a discipline. Can we be disciplined enough to not look three and four weeks down the road?”
“That’s what we will constantly go after. So, sorry to spoil your moment there, but I did have to correct you there on that one.”
It was textbook, about how to tell the truth yet make an effort to be kind.
The Washington Commanders traded for Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore over a month ago. Lattimore has yet to play in his first game for Washington.
However, that could change on Sunday when the Commanders travel to New Orleans to face Lattimore’s former team, the Saints. When Washington acquired Lattimore, he had a hamstring injury, which was not a concern for the Commanders since he was under contract for two more seasons after this one.
Washington is coming off a bye week. Just before the bye, Lattimore increased his activity and was inching closer to returning. On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn gave an update on Lattimore after a week off.
“Last week went good,” Quinn said. “A lot of top speed running. So, hitting all the markers as we’re moving along. He was able to participate in the work that we did today. And as we’re getting into practice, we’re looking forward to getting him regular work with the practice, with the guys and then we’ll take that all the way through the week. But we were very encouraged about all the work that he and the medical team have put in.”
What does Lattimore need to show Washington to play on Sunday?
“Just the markers of him being able to hit all the speeds, all the change of directions, and really all the things that will come up in practice for his position,” Quinn continued. “So, we’ve put him through a lot of tests, all the strength, all the speed to go. And so, he’s hit all the markers up until now. And so, that process that we have is a strict one for that reason, to keep the players safe and healthy. And so, he’s done a really good job of making sure he could hit them.”
Keep an eye on Lattimore’s practice availability this week. Before the bye, Lattimore was limited after not practicing at all for a few weeks. One clue that Lattimore was closing on a return came last week when the Commanders released former first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes.
The good, bad and the ugly from Washington’s first 13 games.
The Washington Commanders were the NFL’s biggest surprise through the first half of the season. At 7-2, Washington led the NFC East before a Week 10 meeting against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Commanders had many chances to win the game but made too many mistakes, losing 28-27. The loss started a three-game losing streak that allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to take over first place in the division.
Washington snapped the three-game skid on Sunday with a dominant 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans. As the Commanders head into their bye week, they are 8-5, with four games remaining.
What’s gone right for Washington through 13 games? What’s gone wrong? Remember, the Commanders won four games last season, so there isn’t much bad to say. General manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn have the team ahead of schedule.
It’s time to review the good, bad, and the ugly from Washington’s first 13 games.
Jayden Daniels: The No. 1 takeaway from the 2024 season is the Commanders have their quarterback. There’s nothing more important than finding that guy. Washington has searched for a quarterback for years, even before Kirk Cousins’ three record-breaking seasons from 2015-17. Daniels was in the MVP conversation through the first half of the season. His worst performances came in back-to-back games against Philadelphia and Dallas, but Daniels still hasn’t looked like a rookie this season.
The leading contender for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Daniels is getting the job done with his arms and legs. He’s completing 70% of his passes and has 21 combined 21 touchdowns. The great quarterbacks make those around them better. Daniels is doing that as a rookie.
The offense as a whole: Kliff Kingsbury has pushed all the right buttons for much of the season. Washington has consistently ranked in the top five for total offense, scoring offense, and rushing offense. The offensive line was expected to be a weakness, but it has been a pleasant surprise. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is having a terrific season and has already set a new career-high for touchdown receptions. Washington’s rushing attack has thrived with a combination of Daniels, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Several individual defensive players: Washington’s defense has improved throughout the season. The Commanders still need help, but many of the new additions have proven beneficial. Linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr., safety Jeremy Chinn, and rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil have all been excellent this season. After the bye, the Commanders should see cornerback Marshon Lattimore for the first time.
The bad
Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs by Michael Davis #24. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Run defense: The Commanders have overachieved through the first 13 games. Their pass defense is surprisingly good, considering Washington’s issues at cornerback. Part of the reason for the success against the pass is because everyone can run on the Commanders. Washington has the No. 27 run defense in the NFL, allowing 137 yards per game. Those numbers certainly do not dramatically improve in-season. If the Commanders make the playoffs as they are currently projected to do, good teams will expose their inability to stop the run.
Austin Ekeler’s concussions: In the Week 4 win at Cincinnati, Ekeler suffered a concussion. He missed the following week but returned. Unfortunately, in the Week 12 loss to Dallas, He suffered his second concussion of the season and was placed on injured reserve. Ekeler must sit out four games, making him eligible to return in Week 18. It was a scary injury for Ekeler, who offered details on his condition this week. He could miss the remainder of the season.
The ugly
Washington Commanders place kicker Austin Seibert (3) reacts after missing a potential game-tying extra point. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Loss to Dallas: The Commanders were double-digit favorites over the Cowboys in Week 12 and got behind early before finally deciding to come alive with five minutes remaining. Then, the next few minutes of that game were the wildest of the season. After Daniels led a touchdown drive, the Commanders missed a tackle on the kickoff, allowing Kavontae Turpin to return it 98 yards for a touchdown. Washington had one last shot with 30 seconds remaining but 86 yards to go. Unbelievably, Daniels finds McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown, and kicker Austin Seibert misses the extra point. It was a disastrous loss for Washington. The Commanders made mistake after mistake and, combined with bad luck, blew a very winnable game.
Dan Quinn went from an underwhelming hire to a Coach of the Year contender.
ESPN’s Joe Buck showed a lack of respect for Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn during Monday night’s game between the Broncos and Browns.
Late in the game, Buck, sounding like he was the agent for Denver head coach Sean Payton, laid out the veteran coach’s case for being the NFL Coach of the Year. According to Buck, Payton had the Broncos in contention with a rookie quarterback — and he was the only coach doing so. Troy Aikman played along until a producer clearly reminded Buck about Quinn, Jayden Daniels, and the Commanders.
Buck then mentioned Quinn, only to repeat what he said earlier. It was strange.
Both the Broncos and Commanders are 8-5. Washington was the story of the first half of the season, with Daniels playing at an MVP level and the Commanders sitting at 7-2. While a three-game losing streak cooled Washington a bit, a 42-19 win over Tennessee got them back on the right track.
Let’s go back to Buck for a second. The coaches he named are all doing an outstanding job. Dan Campbell (Lions), Jim Harbaugh (Chargers), Payton, Mike Tomlin (Steelers), and Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) all have a case, but has any coach turned around his team more than Quinn in less than 12 months?
Washington was a dumpster fire before owner Josh Harris fired Ron Rivera. The roster was in terrible shape; there was no quarterback and an overmatched coaching staff. Harris got to work in January, hiring Adam Peters as GM and Quinn as head coach. Quinn put together an All-Star staff, while Peters flipped the roster. The ultimate piece came in April when the Commanders chose Daniels at No. 2 overall in the NFL draft.
Washington won four games last season. The Commanders have won eight already this year — with four games remaining. Payton, who was Denver’s coach last season, won eight games in 2023.
No coach had a bigger job in front of them than Quinn. And remember the outrage from some of Washington’s fan base about Quinn’s hiring? They wanted Ben Johnson. Adam Peters wanted Quinn. Media from around the country called the hire underwhelming, including CBS recently.
There’s a long way to go, but Quinn and Washington got the last laugh. Quinn proved to be exactly what the Commanders needed. He is a true culture changer, not a coach like Rivera, who talked about culture but was too busy reading what was said about him. Quinn has accomplished in 13 weeks what Rivera couldn’t do in four years. And no thanks to Rivera, as all four of his first-round picks are gone from Washington’s roster.
Campbell is having a terrific season, but the Lions were expected to be a Super Bowl contender. Harbaugh, as usual, is phenomenal but inherited a franchise quarterback. O’Connell is truly Quinn’s primary competition for the Coach of the Year award. What he’s doing in Minnesota with a journeyman quarterback is impressive.
Still, Quinn is not only winning but has also cleansed the organization. Players love coming to work—every player on the roster bought into Quinn’s messaging. Imagine if the Commanders get to 12 wins. Heck, even 11 wins. That would mean they tripled, or almost tripled their win total from one year.
Case closed.
So, while Quinn may have been an “underwhelming” hire, and Joe Buck prefers Sean Payton, Quinn’s case is as strong as anyone’s to be the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year.
In his fifth season with the Commanders, Cornelius Lucas still getting the job done.
Dan Quinn was pleased with the play of his offensive line on Sunday.
That is no surprise, considering the Commanders’ line pounded the Titans all day, accumulating 267 rushing yards on 45 running carries.
Sunday, the Commanders were without starting right tackle Andrew Wylie, who suffered a concussion in last week’s home loss to the Cowboys. Trent Scott had played in substitution for Wylie against the Cowboys.
However, in this game against the Titans, the Commanders chose Lucas to start at right tackle. He not only started but also played on every offensive snap, all 83 of them.
“Yeah, and before you mentioned him, he was one of the first [people] I was going to bring up was Lucas,” said Quinn. So, for a good bit of the season, he’s been playing mostly at left tackle. So, this week in practice for him to after practice, before practice, getting in extra work with [T/G] Sam Cosmi. You could see this was a player that was really putting in the details to get it right.”
Lucas, thus far, had been playing over at left tackle this season. He started early and has swapped time with rookie Brandon Coleman. But during the week, he was putting in the extra work to prepare himself for playing the right tackle spot.
“Now changing to another side to go, that part was going to be a big deal, because he himself did the extra with Sam. ‘I want more combinations, I want more stuff to go.’ So, they really did a nice job of staying on blocks, getting to the next level and the tight ends were a big part of this as well.
Perhaps with the bye week now finally here, the Commanders can get Wylie back and healthy. In addition, they now know their swing tackle, Lucas, is fit and ready to take on either tackle position.
Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez delivers every time he is called upon.
How would you like it said of you, that you really deliver when needed?
Monday, at his press conference, head coach Dan Quinn offered this praise to running back Chris Rodriguez.
Being drafted No. 193 overall in the 2023 NFL draft certainly shouldn’t leave a player overconfident in his abilities. That’s the case with Rodriguez, who was drafted out of Kentucky yet is always working and preparing for his opportunity.
It was fitting that Rodriguez scored the final touchdown Sunday in the Commanders’ 42-19 win over the Titans. Rodriguez has shown he can play special teams, yet he was released last week, missing the frustrating loss to the Cowboys.
No other team claimed Rodriguez, so the Commanders picked him up again. With Austin Ekeler going on IR last week, Rodriguez was again needed. And he certainly delivered when called upon Sunday, rushing 13 times for 94 yards, including a 25-yard long run.
As a result, in his second season, he is gaining the trust of others, including Quinn.
“Yeah, we really have a lot of confidence in him, and he’s just somebody that through practice and through the opportunities that he gets, he really delivers on that. I thought he’s got good vision as a runner.”
This season, Rodriguez has run the ball 265 times, gaining 150 yards (5.8 a carry). So, the touchdown at the end, when Rodriguez scored, you could visibly see the joy some of the linemen exhibited, happy that Rodriguez had gotten into the end zone.
“There’s a lot of trust that’s built between him, his teammates, the staff, Quinn added. And so, when he’s called upon, he’s really ready to deliver. And really that whole running back room kind of emphasizes that.”
Quinn was asked if Rodriguez being released and brought back twice this season might be awkward or lead to emotional moments with Rodriguez.
“You would think so, but it’s actually been just the opposite. And I can imagine even from last Saturday we had to make a roster move with him where he wasn’t going to be on the 53. So, that whole process to go and for him to come out, ‘Hey man, this is where I want to be.’ And so, for us knowing that about him and us feeling the same way, what could have been some instances of that has just actually been the opposite.”
Social media let Joe Buck have it for his inaccurate take on Dan Quinn.
Late in the Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns, ESPN’s Joe Buck made his case that Sean Payton should be the NFL Coach of the Year before things got awkward.
Buck’s argument: Payton has the Broncos in the middle of the playoff race with a rookie quarterback. Six quarterbacks were drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, four of whom are currently starting, and two have their teams firmly in the playoffs mix: Bo Nix [Broncos] and Jayden Daniels [Washington Commanders].
Did Buck forget that Washington coach Dan Quinn has the Commanders sitting at 8-5, with a rookie quarterback and a completely overhauled roster thanks to years of Ron Rivera’s lousy drafting?
So, was Buck’s exuberance a mere slip? It didn’t take long for him to react, mentioning Quinn’s candidacy for NFL Coach of the Year, but only in passing.
“I’m not slighting Dan Quinn, by the way, who has done a great job in Washington, and he is doing it with Jayden Daniels,” But, you hear it about [Mike] Tomlin and Dan Campbell, who has been amazing, [Kevin] O’Connell in Minnesota, and Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers. But the one guy doing it with a rookie quarterback is Sean Payton.”
Instead, he had a chance to backtrack but reiterated his inaccurate point about Payton.
X — formerly Twitter — noticed Buck’s foolish take.
Joe Buck “I’m not slighting Dan Quinn”..proceeds to name all coaches with good teams right now..then says “but the one guy doing it with a rookie QB is Sean Payton” pic.twitter.com/WAsRpTJWVx
Weirdly Joe Buck & Troy Aikman repeated the UTTER Falsehood that Sean Payton is the only coach in the NFL this season having success with a rookie QB.
The producers LITERALLY told them Dan Quinn in their ears, and @Buck said Jayden Daniels, yet Joe still repeated the FALSE line pic.twitter.com/19H4mZUxlf
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) December 3, 2024
Does Joe buck not realize Jayden Daniels is a rookie QB 😭😭😭😭
Interestingly, Buck said the Broncos were only projected to win four or five games. Almost no one had the Commanders predicted to be better than the Broncos, yet Quinn and Daniels have already doubled Washington’s 2023 win total — with four games remaining.
“He was a guy that we liked and had a familiarity with just based on the evaluation coming out of Mississippi State,” McVay said via Sarah Barshop of ESPN. “And then I thought there was some good tape that he’s put out there when we’ve gone against them, particularly later in the year last year.”
The Commanders played the Rams last year, but Forbes only played six snaps in that game. Forbes struggled badly as a rookie, was benched twice, but received a fresh start with Washington’s new coaching staff.
Head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whit Jr. praised Forbes this past offseason. However, it didn’t take long for the new regime to also sour on Forbes. Forbes played a season-high 35 defensive snaps in Week 1 vs. Tampa Bay. He again struggled, which was concerning after a shaky training camp and preseason.
Forbes missed Washington’s next two games with a thumb injury, returning in Week 4. He played in 33 snaps in Week 4 against the Cardinals, but over the next eight games, Forbes played a total of 41 defensive snaps. He did not play in three of his final four games in Washington after it appeared veteran Michael Davis passed him on the depth chart.
Last month’s trade for cornerback Marshon Lattimore sealed Forbes’ fate. While Lattimore has yet to make his Washington debut, he’s getting closer to a return and is expected to play against his old team when the Commanders return from a bye in Week 15.
