5 regressing Commanders players who must bounce back down the 2024 stretch
By Dean Jones
Clelin Ferrell - Commanders DE
Adam Peters saw enough of Clelin Ferrell last season to bring him into the Washington Commanders when free agency commenced. The defensive end demonstrated eye-catching improvements with the San Francisco 49ers, where the general manager scouted him beforehand and was impressed by what he saw throughout the campaign.
Ferrell started well enough before an injury hindered his momentum. Things haven't gone according to plan since his return to the lineup.
The former No. 3 overall selection out of Clemson is incapable of generating consistent pressure. Ferrell's inability to set the edge against the run is equally concerning. The Commanders aren't blessed with great depth in this critical area of the field, so they'll keep playing the veteran and hope things turn around.
This is a concern. The Commanders have been bullied in the trenches versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles over the last fortnight. That cannot continue if Washington wants to harbor legitimate hopes of making noise in the postseason in the first year under head coach Dan Quinn's leadership.
Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB
Jayden Daniels said after Washington's loss at the Philadelphia Eagles that his rib issue isn't bothering him too much. If he's healthy enough to participate, the expectations remain high. But his production in recent weeks tells a different story.
The same zip to Daniels' throwing velocity has diminished since the rib issue suffered on the first drive against the Carolina Panthers. It's worth remembering that the Heisman Trophy winner is a rookie and wasn't going to have things completely smooth sailing, but the consistency dip is notable.
The Commanders' schedule looks relatively comfortable over the next few weeks. Couple this with the mini-bye and a longer rest period after their Week 13 game against the Tennessee Titans, and it would be surprising if Daniels didn't get back to the signal-caller that took the NFL by storm early on.
Daniels knows his performances haven't been good enough over the last fortnight. He's also got the talent and elite-level mentality to get back on track sooner rather than later.
Everything good comes through Daniels. He's set a high bar for himself, but the gifts are there to lead the Commanders to a profitable end to the campaign.
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