5 surprising standouts from Commanders' blowout win vs. Panthers in Week 7
By Dean Jones
Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB
Losing Jayden Daniels after the first drive filled the fanbase with concern. The Washington Commanders are riding on the crest of a wave with the rookie signal-caller leading the charge. His rib issue is a worry, but those in power were right to keep him off the field with the game getting out of hand by half-time.
Marcus Mariota was the man tasked with filling this gaping void. The veteran backup looked a little edgy early on. Perhaps it was the shock of being called upon right out of the gate. Thankfully for the Commanders, he settled down and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury got him into a rhythm.
Mariota looked poised, was largely accurate, and managed to make plays off-script to further raise encouragement. It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but the Oregon product proved his dependability if Daniels is forced to miss time.
The former No. 2 overall selection has limitations. Mariota isn't a fast processor - something Kingsbury should account for if he's under center once again in Week 8. But considering the circumstances, this was as good as Washington could have hoped for from the backup.
Cornelius Lucas - Commanders OT
It wasn't just quarterback Jayden Daniels who went out of action early in Week 7. The Commanders also lost the services of rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman with a concussion. This put the onus squarely on veteran Cornelius Lucas to man the blindside by himself.
Washington has been splitting reps between Coleman and Lucas almost evenly this season. It's worked like a charm, but the experienced offensive tackle proved he's more than capable of manning the spot until the third-round pick gets back based on this showing.
Lucas was accomplished in pass protection and provided physicality in the run game. The Panthers don't exactly have an elite defensive front even at full strength. Missing so many established stars made things easier, but the former Kansas State star deserves praise nonetheless.
With Coleman now in the NFL's concussion protocol, Lucas could gain the lion's share of work in Week 8. This will be against someone he knows well in Montez Sweat, who's coming back to Northwest Stadium for the first time since his trade to the Chicago Bears before the 2023 deadline.
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