Winner No. 4
Josh Johnson - Commanders QB
With Jayden Daniels shut down and Marcus Mariota once again out, the Washington Commanders were forced to turn to veteran journeyman Josh Johnson as their starting quarterback once again. It was his 11th start in 18 NFL seasons — two of which have come during the 2025 campaign.
Nobody was expecting miracles from Johnson, even against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that was resting some established starters. There were some decent moments, most of which arrived when he looked for Terry McLaurin. However, it was a rollercoaster outing from the signal-caller overall.
Johnson looked flustered under pressure. Mistakes were frequent, including his interception and an explicable fumble among his most glaring. This was probably his final chance to experience being an NFL starter, and his lowly passer rating reflected his effort. But he came on down the stretch to potentially round off his NFL career in style.
Why the Commanders started Johnson over Sam Hartman with nothing to play for remains a mystery, but fans expect changes in the quarterback room this offseason.
Loser No. 2
Quan Martin - Commanders S
It seems Quan Martin has been a weekly fixture on this list for some time. Not what any fans or experts anticipated for the once breakout candidate, but it's the harsh reality he's facing before an uncertain offseason.
Martin didn't see the field at all in the first quarter. The 2023 second-round pick was benched in favor of Jeremy Reaves. When he did get into the lineup in the second, he was late in a coverage assignment that resulted in a touchdown pass to Grant Calcaterra.
It was a microcosm of this nightmare campaign for Martin. He's gone from a potential early extension candidate to having his roster spot at stake. Head coach Dan Quinn still believes in the player, just not enough to start him anymore if this game is any indication.
Much will depend on what a new defensive coordinator wants, but Martin's time as a regular feature in Washington might be over.
Winner No. 5
Jeremy Reaves - Commanders S
It may have been a dead rubber game for the Washington Commanders in Week 18, but nobody told Jeremy Reaves. The fiery safety got the start alongside Will Harris on the backend. He took full advantage, providing a sense of instinctive dynamism and playmaking ability that this defense has sorely lacked throughout the campaign.
Reaves played with the urgency his teammates fed off. The former South Alabama standout secured his first interception of the season, and it couldn't have been easier. He also made a sensational pass break-up and always seemed to be around the action.
The Commanders extended Reaves for another year during the 2025 offseason. He'll have a part to play next time around, but whether that'll be on the defensive rotation or as a core part of the special-teams plans remains to be seen.
Either way, the fire in Reaves is something the Commanders should continue to lean on next season.
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