Amid all the talk about cornerback instability, the Washington Commanders have one shining light. And free-agent signing Amik Robertson will need to keep it up in Week 3 when the Seattle Seahawks come to town.
Given the concerns elsewhere on the cornerback depth chart, Robertson will likely be tasked with restricting wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Northwest Stadium. It's a daunting challenge against the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year, but he must deliver.
A few eyebrows were raised when the Commanders made Robertson their first signing of the legal tampering window. He was solid if unspectacular for the Detroit Lions, but his lack of legitimate size was a stumbling block. Washington thought he could help, and the early returns have been positive.
Amik Robertson has a tough challenge against Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 3
Robertson is easily the top-performing cornerback through two weeks. Not exactly a lofty bar to achieve, but it's a positive nonetheless. Unfortunately for the Commanders, opposing offenses are finding other weak links to exploit.
It's an encouraging start from the Louisiana Tech product, and the signs were there over the offseason.
Almost immediately, Robertson assumed a leadership role. He challenged his teammates on the practice field and did whatever was required to help others in the cornerback unit. He won't win every rep, but he will never back down from the fight.
And a fight is precisely what awaits Robertson this weekend.
Smith-Njigba is arguably the league's best receiver right now. One could have easily made that claim last season, too. His route running, deception at the top of his stems, and effortless gliding through coverage are all exemplary. And even without quarterback Sam Darnold, the Ohio State product has still managed 17 catches from 22 targets for 277 receiving yards and four touchdowns through two weeks.
Amik Robertson is Commanders' only capable cornerback entering Week 3
Those are elite, NFL MVP-worthy numbers.
With Darnold set to return this weekend, the signal-caller's exceptional connection with Smith-Njigba should set off alarm bells in Washington. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will look to pile on the pressure, blitzing as often as he can. That might work, but it also might leave the secondary exposed.
That places even more pressure on Robertson.
And he knows it.
When asked about how the Commanders plan to limit Smith-Njigba's influence this weekend, Robertson pointed to the finer details. The defensive back believes the team took a different approach in practice, focusing on the details and making everyone aware of what's expected to limit the pass-catcher's ability to create explosive plays at will.
Sounds good, in theory.
Actually stopping Smith-Njigba is something else entirely.
That won't stop Robertson from trying.
He is a fierce competitor, a maximum-effort guy who doesn't know how to quit. This will be the toughest test he'll face all season, which is saying something one week after locking horns with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. That makes Robertson the Commanders' most important defensive player in this one.
Nick Cross won't be able to provide support on the back end, as he's out with an injury. Mike Sainristil's alarming freefall means he cannot be relied upon. The onus is on Robertson, and even though completely containing Smith-Njigba is impossible, he has to try.
Because, simply put, nobody else is capable.
Add us as a preferred source on Google