Bobby Wagner's vocal presence within the Washington Commanders is growing. Although the perennial All-Pro linebacker prefers to lead by example, his words are holding plenty of weight on this relatively young squad at a critical stage of the campaign.
With the Commanders going through their worst slump of the season, Wagner felt the need to speak out before preparations for their Week 13 game against the Tennessee Titans. This had the desired effect on everybody, leading to a dominant victory before their long-awaited bye.
The Commanders remain locked into the seventh seed, but there is no margin for error. They are one game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams and one contest behind the Green Bay Packers. It's a high-stakes situation where Washington's leaders must come to the fore.
Wagner's been around longer than most. He recently secured 100 tackles for the 13th straight season and is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer when the time comes. His influence on and off the field will be a significant asset to call upon over the next month.
Bobby Wagner calls on Commanders to stay focused with playoffs in sight
The former second-round selection out of Utah State issued a rallying cry to teammates before the stretch run. Wagner wants them to embrace the moment, take things one game at a time, and ignore all distractions in pursuit of achieving their common goal.
"Just understanding what we have left. What we need to do to finish the season how we want to finish the season. And just being locked in, you know? It's a time when there are a lot of distractions with the holidays and things of that nature, but we'll be good. I'm a vet in the game, man. You don't want to look ahead. We have a game in front and everything else is going to take care of itself. We're just focused on the Saints and trying to win. That's it."Bobby Wagner
Commanders LB Bobby Wagner said it doesn't matter who the Saints start at quarterback on Sunday.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) December 11, 2024
He knows Alvin Kamara will be the one to stop.
Bobby said, "they're going to give 41 the ball." pic.twitter.com/Cq4N28eGx3
This was a similar sentiment to Dan Quinn's message earlier this week, so expectations should be received loud and clear by every player no matter their status.
There's a new sense of cohesion and professionalism in the locker room. It's been displayed on countless occasions this season and is a big reason why the Commanders are way ahead of schedule in Year 1 of general manager Adam Peters' drastic rebuild. That must continue with the postseason in their grasp.
Anything less won't be tolerated by Wagner or anybody else. Quinn trusts his players enough to self-police the locker room. This involves keeping everyone on an even keel and fully focused on the immediate task at hand.
Keeping half an eye on events out of their control is a recipe for disaster. Worrying about producing the goods in New Orleans and nothing more is essential. That's the objective that should bear fruit.
Wagner will be a calming, motivational presence at an important time. There isn't much he hasn't seen or done in the game. Having this experienced presence to steer them through the playoff-chasing pressure cooker could make a significant difference when it's all said and done.