Commanders Seek First Win Since Week 1 as Eagles Arrive
Washington enters a three-game divisional stretch without its star receiver, aiming to turn a 2-3 record around before the season slips further.
By Christopher Singh ·
The Washington Commanders face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in a game that head coach Dan Quinn describes as the start of a critical three-week run. With a 2-3 record, the team believes this stretch will determine whether they can still contend for the NFC East title or if the season has already slipped away.
The urgency stems from a string of close losses. In Week 1, Washington lost to the Eagles by two points. They followed that with a tie against the New York Giants and a six-point defeat to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 19. In that final contest, the Commanders trailed 23-3 before rallying, only to see a fourth-quarter touchdown erased by a penalty.
Quinn addressed this timeline in team meetings this week. He told players that while the division race is the long-term goal, the immediate focus is on the next three conference opponents, two of which are division rivals. “The only way this chase begins is by our best this week,” Quinn said.
The offense will look different on Sunday. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is out for the season after tearing his left patellar tendon in the Oct. 19 loss to San Francisco. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has missed two games this season due to injury, and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil has been out for the entire year. Despite these absences, guard Sam Cosmi argued that the talent level remains high. “We can compete, obviously, with the best,” Cosmi said. “It's the execution and being able to do those things on a consistent basis.”
The team enters this game with a healthier roster than it did two weeks ago. Before the 49ers game, 22 players were on the injury report, with 13 listed as questionable or out. Following a bye week, those numbers have dropped. Defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton returned to practice after a torn pectoral muscle, opening his 21-day activation window. Receiver Stefon Diggs had a scheduled rest day on Wednesday and was expected to practice in full on Thursday.
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw did not practice on Wednesday and is unlikely to suit up for the Eagles. Tight end John Bates was working out off to the side. The Commanders are currently 2 1/2 games behind the NFC East-leading Giants. A loss to an injury-plagued Philadelphia team would deepen their deficit in the division standings.
Daniels, who is expected to play, said the team must focus on the daily process rather than the final outcome. “As soon as you start thinking about that and you get out of your process, your routine, that’s where you get all messed up,” Daniels said. The Eagles arrive in Ashburn, Virginia, looking to extend their own winning streak against the division rival.
