5 Commanders players on the hot seat entering Week 7 vs. the Panthers
By Dean Jones
Dante Fowler Jr. - Commanders OLB
All the talk has been around Jonathan Allen's season-ending injury and how it could impact the Washington Commanders moving forward. However, the team is also dealing with some issues regarding their pass rush right now.
Seventh-round rookie Javontae Jean-Baptiste is on injured reserve. Dorance Armstrong Jr. - the team's best defensive end - has also been ruled out with a rib issue suffered versus the Baltimore Ravens. It remains to be seen whether Clelin Ferrell can make a big impact considering how largely ineffective he was upon his return to the lineup in Week 6.
That means the onus is on others to provide some semblance of pressure on veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Dante Fowler Jr.'s role will be integral after the edge presence showed signs of life against the Baltimore Ravens, securing two sacks and looking like someone who could thrive with additional responsibilities on his shoulders.
Fowler lacks consistency against the run, which is an ongoing frustration. But if he can find a way to penetrate Carolina's impressive offensive line consistently, it could force Dalton into mistakes.
Noah Brown - Commanders WR
The Commanders cannot become overly reliant on wide receiver Terry McLaurin in Week 7. This bears more significance when one considers the presence of stud cornerback Jaycee Horn, who is easily the Panthers' best defender with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown out for the season.
Kliff Kingsbury's done a nice job of spreading the wealth throughout the campaign. He's getting almost everyone involved if they prove their reliability. This needs to continue looking at the weaknesses across Carolina's secondary aside from Horn.
Opportunities should be there. This brings Noah Brown's contribution under the microscope as someone who needs to make a lasting impact at Northwest Stadium to keep things ticking offensively.
Brown got eight targets against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. He brought in four of them to finish as the team's leading receiver. The trust is building with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, so don't be surprised if the former seventh-round selection takes advantage of an outstanding matchup en route to his finest performance in a Washington uniform.