Stefon Diggs - Commanders WR
Stefon Diggs' debut went pretty well overall. The wide receiver caught only four of his nine passes, but he consistently got open and came on strong down the stretch to help the Commanders get back into the game.
Unfortunately, this came with a lapse in judgment.
Diggs infuriatingly used the goalpost to celebrate, which hasn't been allowed since before he was drafted. This also put the Commanders out of range for a two-point conversion to tie things up in Philadelphia.
It was frustrating. Diggs took accountability for his actions and apologized to his teammates behind the scenes. That shows how far the wideout has come in terms of maturity, and it will all be forgotten if he can put up a starring effort against the Cowboys.
Dallas' defense is vulnerable. Keeping up with the Cowboys' offense might be the biggest challenge, so Diggs should have opportunities to make his mark on the clash.
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
Nobody needs to tell Mike Sainristil that his performance against the Eagles was nowhere near good enough. Dan Quinn, Adam Peters, and Daronte Jones have all criticized the cornerback publicly this week, but all three believe he can bounce back positively.
That will be easier said than done in Dallas.
Sainristil must improve his discipline, especially against the prolific wide receiver tandem of George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. He cannot get caught watching the ball, and he cannot take any unnecessary risks. If the Michigan product does, he will be punished.
This might have to be a bend-but-don't-break situation for Sainristil. He's not going to shut Pickens and Lamb down completely — nobody does. But if he can limit explosive plays and keep everything in front of him, the 2024 second-round pick has a chance to be competitive.
That will make a big difference. Whether Sainristil can do it remains to be seen.
Daron Payne - Commanders DL
Javon Kinlaw is listed as questionable for Week 2 with a back injury. He will probably play, but the South Carolina product won't be at 100 percent. That places even more pressure on Daron Payne to dominate in the trenches.
Payne showed flashes of explosiveness against the Eagles. He was consistently in the backfield, getting Jalen Hurts off his spot. Unfortunately, he couldn't convert opportunities into sacks, which was an ongoing frustration last year as well.
Still, it already looks like Payne can be a real difference-maker for the Commanders. Without Tyler Smith on Dallas' interior offensive line, the former Alabama standout should fancy his chances of making Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott uncomfortable.
This is a crucial year for Payne, the last of his current deal. The Commanders are making him earn another financial commitment after standing pat this offseason, and a strong outing versus Dallas will only improve his hopes.
Add us as a preferred source on Google