After a sensational start to the 2024 season, the Washington Commanders are navigating their first taste of prolonged adversity. This was always going to arrive at some stage. How head coach Dan Quinn and his staff galvanize their squad is crucial.
The Commanders are still in a good position despite losing their last two contests. They are 7-4 with a wildcard playoff spot well within their capabilities. Washington's schedule is also far from daunting if they can respond accordingly.
Nobody expected the Commanders to be in this position so soon into a comprehensive rebuild. They are way ahead of schedule, which raises expectations among the fanbase and across the media for good measure. Having two periods of extended rest should help re-focus this squad, but the margin for error is getting slimmer with every indifferent outing.
All hope is not lost for the Commanders. While they might not have enough to mix it with the legitimate Super Bowl contenders just yet, this is a team nobody will want to see on their playoff quest.
Getting there is the tough part. With this in mind, here are five regressing Commanders players who must bounce back down the 2024 stretch.
Regressing Commanders players who must bounce back down the 2024 stretch
Noah Brown - Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders brought in Noah Brown to potentially become the perfect No. 2 wide receiver behind Terry McLaurin. There are flashes of genuine quality and he's got more defensive pass interference calls than anybody, but the drop in numbers over the last fortnight represents a slight concern.
Brown needs to step things up and provide rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels with another dependable option. He's got the size and proven production to ensure this dip in form becomes a blip and nothing more concerning. The sooner that happens, the more chance Washington has of getting out of its current slump.
The former seventh-round pick out of Ohio State has the physical profile to be more impactful. That's exactly what the Commanders will be looking for at the business end of the season.
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
Marshon Lattimore hasn't been active as yet as he works his way back from a hamstring issue. The Washington Commanders need their new star cornerback firing on all cylinders down the stretch. Taking the extra precautions needed to avoid any unnecessary complications is a smart strategy.
Lattimore should be ready soon, potentially in Week 12 at home to the Dallas Cowboys. Regardless of whether the four-time Pro Bowler is healthy or not, the Commanders need more from Benjamin St-Juste over their remaining regular-season games.
St-Juste's campaign is following his career trend. At some stages, he looks like a capable performer. The concentration issues and infringements continue to hold him back, so a huge effort is needed to improve his chances of an extended stay beyond 2024.
This ship might have sailed for St-Juste, there's just no telling for sure. He's become an easy target for fans as others get a pass. Having Lattimore to lean on will help enormously, but that won't stop opposing teams from identifying him as a weak link unless coverage consistency increases.
Brandon Coleman - Commanders OT
Brandon Coleman started well. The rookie left tackle was brought along gradually by the Commanders' coaching staff, sharing starting duties with veteran Cornelius Lucas to not put too much on his inexperienced shoulders right out of the gate.
This was a recipe for success initially. Coleman and Lucas almost split reps evenly and excelled with Washington's improved blocking concepts. Things started to dip once the aging edge enforcer missed time through injury.
Lucas' complication increased Coleman's responsibilities considerably. He got the keys to start fully versus high-quality opposition. The No. 67 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft struggled accordingly.
Pressing the panic button where Coleman is concerned would be foolish. This remains a player with immense promise - someone who could potentially be the long-term blindside option with additional refinement. However, moving back to the tandem approach is essential if Lucas is ready to accumulate prominent reps after the mini-bye.
Coleman will benefit greatly from that. If it helps the Commanders offense return to the outstanding form earlier in the campaign, the better their chances will be.
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.