The Washington Commanders still have their future in the balance. With the team dealing with troubling injuries, it's an all-hands-on-deck situation.
While head coach Dan Quinn's squad secured a do-or-die win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, their fortunes are still hanging precariously. Some winnable games are ahead, but the margin for error is long gone. If the Commanders are serious about getting out of their slump, everyone must contribute.
The Commanders are being stretched to their limit. General manager Adam Peters is trying to find solutions to the constant stream of injuries, but it's difficult. He's also trying to save money for some upcoming contract extensions, which makes the task even more difficult.
Everyone knows the stakes. The Commanders' result against the Eagles was all that mattered. But if they want to keep this positive momentum going, their performances and overall execution must be better for a full four-quarter stretch.
That won't be easy. And it could legitimately go either way. But even at 2-4-1 through seven games, the Commanders still have a shot at the NFC East title if the players step up and stay consistent under extreme pressure.
With that in mind, here are five Commanders players whose responsibilities might be more important than fans realize the rest of the way.
Washington Commanders players carrying more responsibility than their roles suggest
Tyler Owens - Commanders DB
The Washington Commanders remain reluctant to bring Tyler Owens into the defensive rotation. Fans have been clamoring for the Texas Tech product to finally get his shot, but it seems as if the coaching staff doesn't believe he is ready.
This is Year 3 for the player, so it's frustrating that Owens is still being overlooked defensively. Even so, the undrafted free agent is finding another way to cement his importance to the team's long-term plans.
Owens is a unique athlete. His testing scores before the 2024 NFL Draft were nothing short of phenomenal, and even though he remains raw, the defensive back has quietly become one of the league's most prolific special-teams gunners.
His viral play against the Philadelphia Eagles made the entire league sit up and take notice. The Commanders have always valued Owens' contribution in this key discipline, but getting national notoriety was a strange yet welcome feeling for the player.
This inevitably came with more attention from opposing special teams units, but Owens is still finding ways to make things happen. And with the margins finer than ever for Washington over the second half of 2026, his contribution over the remaining 10 games will be vital.
Add us as a preferred source on Google