Commanders news: Playoff odds, Chase Young injury update, Carson Wentz

The Washington Commanders’ bye week has finally arrived. After playing 13 consecutive weeks without an allotted break, Washington will enjoy this week of rest before the Week 15 rematch against the Giants on Sunday Night Football.

The bye week is typically a down period in terms of news, but Washington is competing for a playoff spot and have a ton of injuries to navigate over the next several days. On top of that, they’ll have to implement a game plan to ensure they walk out of Week 15 with a win over the Giants.

Falling to 7-6-1 would present the Commanders an uphill climb to make the postseason. After the now-7-5 Seahawks escaped a scare against the Rams, they’ll get the Panthers at home this Sunday favored to improve to 8-5.

Let’s get into a little Commanders news roundup during the bye, shall we?

Commanders news roundup during Week 14 bye

• Ron Rivera is optimistic Chase Young will make his season debut against the Giants in Week 15. With the defensive line performing like a top-tier unit this season, the team can continue affording slow-playing Young’s return. The only problem with that is Young needs true on-field work to clear the remaining mental hurdles, and that’s “one of those thing that you can’t mimic [in practice] what he’s going to get out there in the game,” as Rivera told the media.
• Don’t expect a quarterback change coming out of the bye, as Rivera is “comfortable” with Taylor Heinicke running this version of Washington’s offense, which emphasizes the run to keep the defense fresh. Wentz will be the primary backup once he’s activated off injured reserve.
• Linebacker Cole Holcomb is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair his lingering foot injury.
• Backup center Tyler Larsen is likely done of the season after suffering a fractured kneecap in Sunday’s tie vs the Giants. With Chase Roullier already out, Nick Martin or Wes Schweitzer are next up to start at center.
• Perhaps the biggest news of the last few days is that the Commanders-Giants Week 15 rematch has been flexed to Sunday Night Football. With so much at stake, FedEx Field better be rocking for this game.

Commanders: Updated NFC playoff picture

1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-1)
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
3. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
6. New York Giants (7-4-1)
7. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)

Teams in the hunt:

1. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
2. Detroit Lions (5-7)
3. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
4. Green Bay Packers (5-8)

NFL News

• 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo is likely out for the season after suffering a broken foot in Sunday’s win over the Dolphins. A potential first-round playoff matchup for the Commanders, Washington will also play San Francisco on Christmas Eve in Week 16, so this news is very pertinent. Brock Purdy looked good in relief, but the Niners are expected to add another quarterback to the roster.
• That won’t be Baker Mayfield. With the Panthers content rolling with Sam Darnold and PJ Walker at quarterback, the former No. 1 overall pick was waived on Monday. The 49ers would’ve loved to claim him, but the Rams had first dibs on the waiver wire order and didn’t hesitate. Alas, Mayfield, a QB lightly linked with Washington in the offseason, joins his third team in 2022.
• The Titans shockingly fired GM Jon Robinson on Tuesday. The general consensus is head coach Mike Vrabel will assume more power. You’ll remember Vrabel was visibly frustrated after the Titans traded star receiver AJ Brown on draft night in April.