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3 nightmare scenarios for Commanders during 2022 season

By Jerry Trotta

Mar 17, 2022; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz addresses the media at Inova Sports Performance Center Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: John McCreary-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz addresses the media at Inova Sports Performance Center Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: John McCreary-USA TODAY Sports /
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With an improved quarterback, receiving corps, running back room and returning all of their starters in the secondary and on the defensive line, the Washington Commanders have no excuse not to post more than seven wins in 2022.

Playing one of the NFL’s easiest schedules, we better not be talking about the Commanders struggling to finish above .500 again. With Ron Rivera entering a pivotal third year at the helm, it’s time for fans to elevate their expectations.

At the very least, this should be a nine-win team. Will that be enough to qualify for the playoffs? Most likely. If everything goes according to plan, we should be talking about Washington playing a part in Super Wild Card Weekend.

But what if everything doesn’t go according to plan? What if the nightmare that was last season rears its ugly ahead and everything goes off the rails?

With that in mind, let’s highlight some doomsday scenarios that could plague the Commanders in 2022.

3 worst-case scenarios for Commanders in 2022

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

3. Injuries Return

Sheer karma suggests the Commanders’ injury luck will improve in 2022. How could it not after last season? Let’s run through a quick recap, shall we?

Chase Young, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Logan Thomas and Chase Roullier (all hugely important pieces) suffered season-ending injuries. As did Jon Bostic. Stalwart offensive lineman Brandon Scherff missed six games, Montez Sweat was limited to 10 starts, JD McKissic was shelved final six games, Curtis Samuel barely saw the field and Landon Collins and William Jackson III missed a combined nine games.

Doesn’t get much worse than that. You can argue those are 10 of the team’s most important players. The only players not included? Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Charles Leno, Kendall Fuller (one missed game due to COVID) and Antonio Gibson, and even he battled through a stress fracture in his shin.

Unless the football gods have it out for Washington, their injury luck will improve significantly this upcoming season. Of course, you can’t control injuries. This roster is as talented as it’s been in years, but the group’s overall lack of depth at certain positions will derail their season if certain starters miss a chunk of time.

Crossing out fingers that doesn’t happen.

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