Tag: Darrick Forrest

Who was the Commanders’ unsung hero in 2022?

The 2022 season was a breakout season for this young defender.

The Washington Commanders were a top-10 defense in 2022 by every metric. Washington was No. 3 in total defense, No. 4 in pass defense, No. 11 in run defense and No. 7 in scoring defense. The Commanders also finished No. 9 in Football Outsiders’ total defensive DVOA.

Everyone knows about Washington’s defensive line. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are going to the Pro Bowl. Defensive end Montez Sweat had an outstanding season, while fellow DE Chase Young returned down the stretch and played well.

As far as Washington’s secondary safety Kamren Curl has finally begun to receive the recognition he deserves. As good as Curl is, he’s not Washington’s only talented young safety.

NFL.com recently named one unsung hero for all 32 NFL teams from the 2022 season. A player who was either overlooked or became a surprise contributor.

That player for the Commanders is Darrick Forrest. The second-year safety from Cincinnati was a fifth-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft but missed most of his rookie season with an injury. He was expected to be a key special-teamer and role player on defense in 2022. However, when Curl missed the first game after undergoing hand surgery, Forrest stepped in.

He was outstanding. When Curl returned in Week 3, Forrest remained in the lineup. Eventually, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio made Forrest a permanent starter at safety alongside Curl, allowing Bobby McCain to move inside to slot corner, a position he’s played in the past.

Washington gets a lot of praise for its defensive strength up front, but the player who jumped off the screen to me in 2022 was this second-year safety. Evidently, Ron Rivera’s staff felt similarly, moving Forrest from a rotational role into a starting spot in the second half of the season. The ballhawk finished with four interceptions, nine passes defensed and 88 tackles, and his hard-hitting style produced two fumbles (he also had one recovery). I love watching this guy play, and he always seems to be around the ball.

Forrest and Curl represent some of Washington’s terrific drafting in recent years. In addition to Forrest being a former fifth-round pick, Curl was a seventh-round selection in 2020 and is now one of the NFL’s top young safeties.

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The Commanders missed Kam Curl in Saturday’s loss to the 49ers

George Kittle’s big game highlighted how much Washington missed Kam Curl Saturday.

When Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl missed Thursday’s practice with an ankle injury, things weren’t looking good for his availability in Saturday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Curl had practiced on a limited basis Tuesday and Wednesday, so seeing him unavailable Thursday meant the Commanders needed a contingency plan. Curl traveled with the team to California and tried to give it a go but could not play.

That meant veteran special-team/safety Jeremy Reaves and rookie Percy Butler would join Darrick Forrest in the starting lineup.

While San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t put up big numbers, he was accurate, executed Kyle Shanahan’s offense with precision, and took advantage of having tight end George Kittle. Purdy found Kittle for two touchdowns in the third quarter to give the 49ers a 21-7 lead, and they’d never look back.

Reaves played well in Curl’s absence. Unfortunately, Curl was really missed, and two plays stood out.

Watch Forrest on this 34-yard touchdown pass to Kittle.

Forrest has been outstanding all season, so there’s nothing to worry about there; just emphasizing how the Commanders missed Curl.

After the game, Forrest acknowledged the mistake.

“That first one was definitely a misread on me,” Forrest said. “I have to be better than that. I knew as soon as I saw him, this is my fault. I definitely learned from that and will get better.” 

Then, there is the Ray-Ray McCloud 71-yard touchdown run.

Washington gets an extra day of rest ahead of next week’s game against the Cleveland Browns. You can bet head coach Ron Rivera wants a healthy Curl back in action alongside Forrest as the Commanders inch closer to a playoff berth.

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Commanders and 49ers tied 7-7 at halftime

The Commanders and 49ers are locked in a defensive battle at halftime.

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The Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers are tied 7-7 at halftime of their Week 16 matchup from Levi’s Stadium.

Washington started the game with the football but failed to move the ball. San Francisco took over on offense and quickly moved the ball into Washington territory. The 49ers were facing a fourth-and-1 when Christian McCaffrey took the pitch near the sideline, and Commanders linebacker David Mayo made a terrific play to turn the ball over.

The Commanders then had some success moving the football after a big completion from quarterback Taylor Heinicke to rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson. However, the Commanders ran the ball four times and turned it over at their one-yard line when running back Antonio Gibson was short from one yard out.

The 49ers then took advantage as Ray-Ray McCloud takes the handoff and goes 71 yards untouched for a touchdown to give San Francisco the 7-0 lead.

Washington’s offense stalls again, putting the ball back into the hands of the Niners. Quarterback Brock Purdy’s pass is bobbled and goes into the hands of safety Darrick Forrest for a Washington interception.

A few plays later, Heinicke found Dotson in the back of an end zone with 22 seconds remaining in the first half to tie the game.

Heinicke completed eight of 11 passes for 89 yards with a touchdown. Dotson caught four passes for 49 yards and a score. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. carried the ball 17 times for 44 yards in the first half.

Defensive end Chase Young made his return and immediately made an impact. He stopped a run for no gain and tipped a pass on the next play.

Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste returned from injury and left after one play.

The Niners open the second half with the football.

Commanders will be without safety Kam Curl vs. 49ers

Curl is a big loss for Washington, but cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is active.

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The Washington Commanders will be without a critical part of their defense for Saturday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Starting safety Kamren Curl will miss his third game of the season with an ankle injury.

Curl injured his ankle in Sunday night’s loss to the New York Giants and made the trip to California with the team. He tested the ankle on the field before the game and couldn’t go.

Curl was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday and did not practice Thursday and was listed as questionable for the game.

Curl missed Washington’s first two games after he had surgery on his hand in the preseason. The Commanders defense turned things around after a slow start and Curl’s return was a major reason for that improvement.

Head coach Ron Rivera spoke on what Washington would do if Curl couldn’t play. Rookie Percy Butler and veteran special-teams stalwart Jeremy Reaves would both get some time at safety next to Darrick Forrest.

In some good news for the secondary, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is active.

Ron Rivera discusses defensive plan if Kam Curl can’t play

Where will the Commanders turn if Kam Curl can’t play?

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Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl is a terrific player. The 2020 seventh-round pick has emerged as a vital piece of Washington’s defense, and that was evident in the first two games of the 2022 season, which he missed due to injury.

His return coincided with Washington’s defense playing at a much higher level. Curl’s presence, combined with the growth of second-year safety Darrick Forrest, has given the Commanders a talented pair of young, physical safeties who complement one another.

Curl is listed as questionable for the Week 16 game with an ankle injury. If Curl can’t go, that’s a big loss for the Commanders.

Head coach Ron Rivera discussed Curl’s injury this week.

“Obviously just the ankle,” Rivera said. “Again, defensive backs have gotta use those plant and drive off of those feet, and we just gotta make sure he can do it. He’ll continue to get his treatments, and we’ll see how he is come Saturday morning.”

What’s the defensive plan if Curl can’t go?

“Well, for the most part, it’s gonna be by committee,” Rivera said. ‘We’ve got guys that’ll now get opportunities to step in and play the position. We’ll rely on Percy [Butler], and we’ll rely on Jeremy [Reaves], a couple of guys that have really stepped up when they’ve got an opportunity and have performed nicely for us. So, we’re feeling pretty comfortable with whatever we have to do.”

You can’t just replace Curl. However, the good news is the Commanders have options. Reaves always plays well when he’s been forced into action on the defense. The Pro Bowl special-teamer knows the defense and brings plenty of experience. Butler, a rookie fourth-round pick, has also excelled on special teams this season. He’s also seen an increase in defensive snaps over the last several weeks.

For Rivera, he certainly hopes Curl will be on the field against the Niners.

Commanders secondary coach talks growth of Darrick Forrest and Benjamin St-Juste

Thanks to some young defensive backs, Washington’s secondary went from a question mark to a strength.

If you watched the Washington Commanders in the preseason, specifically against the Kansas City Chiefs, you probably felt like it would be another long season for Washington’s defense.

That’s why you shouldn’t trust the preseason.

While Washington struggled defensively during the first two games, things turned around in Week 3 when third-year safety Kamren Curl returned to the lineup. Since then, Washington’s defense has ranked among the best in the NFL.

Obviously, the defensive line is a big reason for the Commanders’ defensive success. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne dominate opponents weekly, while defensive end Montez Sweat is quietly having an outstanding season.

The most overlooked aspect of Washington’s defensive improvement is the secondary — specifically a pair of second-year defensive backs.

Chris Harris, an eight-year NFL veteran, is in his third season as the Commanders defensive backs coach. Harris’s name is often mentioned around the NFL as a possible defensive coordinator candidate. Harris should be in line for a promotion in the offseason for his work with cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and safety Darrick Forrest.

After practice on Friday, Harris spoke to the media and discussed the growth of St-Juste and Forrest.

“I’ve seen guys that were really starting to get a grasp of just the game in general, and people tend to make their biggest jumps between their first and second years,” Harris said.

“When you come into the league, you’re still kind of green; you’re still learning. And then you see it for the first time that first season. So everything’s so fast your first year, and things tend to slow down for you going into that second year. You feel a little bit more comfortable. You’ve kind of seen some things. You don’t know everything, but you’ve seen some of these things. And so the game starts to slow down for you; you understand and learn how to study things you should be looking for. Because when you come into the NFL, you don’t know and it’s no fault of your own. You just don’t know. And so, they constantly been learning and we’ve been seeing really good growth out of both of those guys.”

Spoken like a true NFL veteran who has seen it as a player and a coach.

One area that dramatically improved the secondary was benching free-agent bust William Jackson III. Washington traded Jackson after his benching and St-Juste moved into his role on the outside. St-Juste often lines up against the opponent’s top receiver. St-Juste had some epic battles against Vikings star Justin Jefferson in Week 9, winning some and losing some.

Forrest’s improvement has been evident since Week 1. He started in place of Curl in Week 1 and was arguably Washington’s top defensive player. Forrest’s versatility allows him to play in the box or cover the deep middle of the field. The coaching staff used Forrest, Curl and veteran Bobby McCain together frequently and finally made Forrest a permanent starter at safety alongside Curl. The move allowed McCain to move to the slot, improving multiple positions at once.

Now, the Commanders have one of the top young safety duos in the league. Even more impressive is that Curl [seventh round] and Forrest [fifth round] were day-three picks.

Washington hopes to have St-Juste back for Week 15. He missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

As for Harris, you can bet the NFL is taking notice of his work with Washington’s young defensive backs.

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Commanders’ statistical leaders at the bye week

Every statistical leader for the Washington Commanders through 13 games.

The Washington Commanders sit at 7-5-1 on the bye week after winning five of their previous seven games. The Commanders headed into the bye after a 20-20 tie with the New York Giants in Week 13.

It’s a late bye week for Washington, but it comes at the perfect time. The Commanders suffered multiple injuries on the offensive line in Week 13, and the extra rest is needed.

When the Commanders return from the bye in Week 15, they’ll host the Giants in a rematch that could determine the playoff fates of both longtime rivals.

Here are Washington’s statistical leaders through 13 games of the 2022 NFL season.

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 13 Q&A with Commanders Wire

With a Week 13 matchup between the New York Giants and Washington on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Commanders Wire.

The New York Giants (7-4) and Washington Commanders (7-5) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 13 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Giants opened the week as 2.5-point home favorites but that has completely shifted and is now +2 as of this writing.

With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.

Commanders’ top defensive player grades for Week 11, per PFF

What a terrific day for Washington’s defense! Who graded the highest for the Commanders?

It was another outstanding defensive effort for the Washington Commanders in Sunday’s 23-10 domination of the Houston Texans.

The Commanders held the Texans to five total yards in the first half. Houston would finish the game with 148 total yards, something that didn’t sit well with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen after the game.

It’s that type of focus that has taken this defense to another level. Not only is Washington’s defense playing at an elite level, but the secondary is also playing in unison and with confidence.

In Sunday’s win, Allen and defensive end Montez Sweat picked up two sacks each, while defensive tackle Daron Payne added another sack. Cornerback Kendall Fuller returned an interception for a touchdown, while safety Darrick Forrest had a highlight-reel pick.

So, who was Washington’s top performers from Week 11?

Pro Football Focus grades the top 10 Commanders’ defensive players from Sunday’s win over Houston.

5 Commanders who stood out in the win over the Texans

It was a good day for several Commanders in Sunday’s 23-10 win. We name five players who stood out.

The Washington Commanders dominated the Houston Texans 23-10 Sunday to improve to 6-5 on the season.

The Commanders held the Texans to just five total yards in the first half. They sacked Houston quarterback Davis Mills five times, hit him nine times and intercepted him twice. Houston would end the day with only 148 total yards, and rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who came into the game among the NFL’s top rushers, finished with eight yards on 10 carries.

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke managed the game effectively; he wasn’t asked to do too much. The Commanders leaned on their defense and running game to leave Houston with a win. Washington’s coaching staff cautioned the team about this being a trap game and the players responded accordingly.

We do our best to name five players who stood out the most in Sunday’s win.