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3 harsh lessons from Commanders Week 4 loss to the Cowboys

By Jerry Trotta

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: William Jackson III #3 of the Washington Commanders and Kendall Fuller #29 of the Washington Commanders defend Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. Jackson was called for defensive pass interference on the play. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: William Jackson III #3 of the Washington Commanders and Kendall Fuller #29 of the Washington Commanders defend Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. Jackson was called for defensive pass interference on the play. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) prepares to pass the ball under pressure form Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) as Commanders guard Trai Turner (53) blocks during the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) prepares to pass the ball under pressure form Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) as Commanders guard Trai Turner (53) blocks during the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Trai Turner signing was a failure by the front office 

Unlike Jackson, who has a 15-game sample size with the burgundy and gold, the Turner signing looks like an organizational failure after four games.

We hate to cast aspersions about a player, but it looks like Turner wants not part of playing. If that’s the case, he got his wish on Sunday as he was benched for Saahdiq Charles after a woeful two-play sequence in the first half where he was flagged for a false start and gave up a sack on blown assignment any run-of-the mill OL could’ve executed on the very next snap.

The Commanders were never going to replace Brandon Scherff with an equally-talented player, but Ron Rivera’s Panthers connection got the best of him here. After Sunday’s performance, fans are right to have questions whether the front office should’ve pursued alternative options in the draft or free agency.

Turner admittedly has five Pro Bowls on his resume and a strong rebound season in Pittsburgh last year after an ineffective 2020 with the Chargers.

The 29-year-old is now three years removed from his last Pro Bowl (with Rivera and Scott Turner in Carolina in 2019) and looks more like the turnstile the Chargers signed to start at guard two years ago. Talk about an organizational failure.

The Commanders have more problems on their offensive line than Turner, but they should’ve been more thorough in their search to replace Scherff, who was the unit’s pillar and most consistent player for almost a decade.

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