It was a season in which the Washington Commanders were expected to challenge for the Super Bowl. Fans were legitimately hopeful for the first time in decades, but it's been an absolute disaster almost from start to finish.
One can place plenty of blame on the torrid injury luck. But even if everyone was available, this squad looks a long way off from hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy right now. With a 3-8 record at the bye week, it's yet another lost season for Washington's football franchise.
The finger-pointing began weeks ago. Dan Quinn even made a drastic in-season change, taking over defensive coordinator responsibilities from Joe Whitt Jr. Considering how much the head coach values loyalty, this shift typifies just how poorly things have gone through 11 games.
Adam Peters has a lot of hard work and difficult decisions ahead this offseason. The Commanders still have six games to navigate, but the general manager should already be developing a concise plan to hit the ground running when Washington's regular-season engagements conclude.
That's for the not-too-distant future, something most fans have already turned their focus towards. Before then, here are four bright spots and three harsh truths for the Commanders to ponder at their Week 12 bye.
Bright spots and harsh truths as Commanders hit critical bye week
Bright Spot No. 1
Commanders' trade for Laremy Tunsil
Adam Peters swung for the fences this offseason. The Washington Commanders were in a position to go bold after reaching the NFC Championship game in Year 1 of this ambitious project. The front office leader was right to get aggressive, even if things didn't work out as anyone had hoped.
Amid all the doom and gloom, one constant has emerged. And for all the decisions Peters may have gotten wrong during his second recruitment period at the helm, his decision to trade for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was a fantastic piece of business.
Tunsil's status as one of the league's most prolific blindside protectors is well known. He was clearly stung by being cast aside by the Houston Texans, which gave him the motivation to thrive in Washington. The former Ole Miss standout has been almost flawless, and although the penalty numbers remain a little too high, his pass protection has been nothing short of elite.
Whether it's been Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota under center, Tunsil's outstanding production has kept them relatively clean. If the Commanders had a better record, he'd be firmly in the All-Pro conversation.
Alas, that's not the case. However, it doesn't detract from the significant impact Tunsil has made thus far.
Harsh Truth No. 1
Commanders 2024 draft class might not be good
Adam Peters struck gold with his first draft pick as general manager by taking quarterback Jayden Daniels. He's the franchise player, but the rest of his inaugural class isn't looking too promising right now.
Several high selections were expected to make jumps this season. Aside from Luke McCaffrey, who was on a Pro Bowl trajectory as a kick returner before injury, it's been largely underwhelming from others.
Mike Sainristil hasn't reached the heights of his rookie year. The Commanders are still trying to work out where he's best suited, and the cornerback's muffed punt return in Week 11 was a microcosm of how things have unfolded for the Michigan product in 2025.
Ben Sinnott and Johnny Newton have been non-factors. Jordan Magee has flashed promise but nothing more. Brandon Coleman was benched after two games. Dominique Hampton was cut in the summer, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste got hurt early on.
If Peters hadn't hit the jackpot with Daniels, this class would look even worse.
Bright Spot No. 2
Commanders still have an elite punter
There haven't been many players who have emerged from the campaign with credit so far. However, the Commanders can at least take solace from the fact that they still have an elite punter at their disposal.
Tress Way is the team's longest-serving player. Like most of Washington's roster, he's in the twilight of his career. But make no mistake; he is still performing at a high level as all around him seemingly crumbles.
The two-time Pro Bowler's 48.5 yards per punt average is his highest since 2019. Way is placing no fewer than 50% of his punts inside the 20-yard line, which is his highest percentage since 2018. Having this reliability was desperately needed, especially considering the offensive struggles on occasion.
Even though Way will be 36 years old next season, he has already done more than enough for another one-year commitment from the Commanders. Hopefully, he avoids the temptation to retire and continues his journey in Washington.
Harsh Truth No. 2
Commanders' roster gamble backfired badly
Adam Peters took a calculated risk this offseason. The Commanders ran it back with the large majority of the squad that reached meteoric heights in 2024. The general manager made two bold trades, one big free-agent splash, and filled out the roster with aging players looking for one last shot at the Super Bowl.
Injuries haven't assisted Washington's cause by any stretch of the imagination, but this risky approach from Peters has backfired spectacularly.
The NFL's oldest roster looks precisely that, especially on defense. Everything looks like hard work, and opposing teams know full well how to exploit the Commanders' weaknesses. The magic that enveloped the organization last time around is gone, replaced with far more questions than answers.
Peters didn't become a bad general manager overnight. He was right to be aggressive, but he should see this changing situation for what it is. The Commanders have to get younger, and it starts during the offseason.
Bright Spot No. 3
Dorance Armstrong Jr.'s breakout before injury
There were serious concerns about the Washington Commanders' pass rush before the season. Fans didn't believe that general manager Adam Peters did enough to strengthen this unit, and they've been proven right.
The Commanders aren't generating consistent pressure. This became more glaring when breakout star Dorance Armstrong Jr. suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the entire campaign. It was a highly disappointing development that Washington's defense couldn't recover from in its current state.
Armstrong was a legitimate bright spot before getting hurt. There was explosiveness and urgency in everything he did. His ability to set the edges on running plays improved drastically. He was also among the league's sack leaders before an unfortunate development.
Hopefully, Armstrong can make a full recovery in time for the 2026 season. Regardless, Peters cannot neglect the defensive end position this offseason. That would be organizational malpractice with severe ramifications attached.
Harsh Truth No. 3
Commanders need a rethink at safety
Another gamble from Adam Peters this offseason saw dynamic safety Jeremy Chinn walk for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The front-office supermo was counting on young players to progress and free-agent signing Will Harris to fill the void. Neither has happened.
At least Harris has an excuse. He got hurt early in the season and is only just nearing a return. The others have nowhere to hide, and their glaring flaws have been exposed almost constantly.
The biggest letdown of all is Quan Martin. Washington's fan base and the broader media were anticipating a breakout campaign from the 2023 second-round pick this season. Instead, he's turned into a liability, and head coach Dan Quinn's decision to decrease his reps in Week 11 represents a damning indictment of how his performances are being perceived by those in power.
Washington's other options consist of unknowns and special-teams players. If the same trend continues over the remaining six games, bolstering the safety unit will be among Peters' most pressing priorities.
Bright Spot No. 4
Commanders' decision to draft Josh Conerly Jr.
Trading for Laremy Tunsil did not stop the Commanders from selecting offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters considered moving back for more picks, but those plans changed quickly when the Oregon prospect slipped through the cracks and into their laps.
Conerly embarked on a position switch from the blindside to right tackle this summer. He got the start in Week 1, but a brutal early gauntlet versus some of the league's most prolific pass-rushers came with inevitable growing pains.
That was the baptism of fire Conerly needed. It's taken time, but his performances over the last month have been a massive positive. The edge protector is making the strides required, and he'll only get better with more experience.
The first-year pro is not the finished article just yet. But in all honesty, that's what makes Conerly's recent growth so exciting.