Nick Bellore - Commanders LB
The Washington Commanders' decision to sign Nick Bellore this offseason went way under the radar. General manager Adam Peters made countless transactions to improve the team. The linebacker's arrival was barely spoken about compared to others.
It didn't take long for Bellore to become an important part of the team. He didn't get many reps at the defensive second level thanks to the presence of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. However, his exceptional special teams production was a tremendous asset to call upon.
Bellore received Pro Bowl and even All-Pro consideration in this discipline without quite doing enough to get the nod. That's a testament to how well he's performed and adjusted to a new environment. His performance at the Detroit Lions only improved his chances of an extended stay beyond the campaign.
The Commanders only punted once in this game, as did Detroit. Bellore was active in both plays. He even got some defensive reps to make an impression, making three key tackles to further enhance his influence.
This could be Bellore's final NFL season. He's approaching 36 years old and Father Time's grasp won't be too far away. But as he's proven this season, there's plenty of juice left in the tank.
Trent Scott - Commanders OL
As mentioned previously, the Commanders' offensive line came into this one ready. They were prepared for the challenge and matched Detroit's physicality from the first whistle. However, this unit received a body blow when Sam Cosmi went down through injury in the first half.
The concerns when Cosmi got folded up on Brian Robinson Jr.'s touchdown were glaring. He managed to walk off with the assistance of medical staff but didn't return. Washington got the worst news imaginable after the contest after discovering the former second-round pick out of Texas tore his ACL.
Cosmi faces a long road to recovery and could potentially miss the entire 2025 campaign depending on the issue's severity. The Commanders had to think quickly to avoid losing momentum. Trent Scott was the man chosen to fill this gaping void.
Scott's spent the majority of his career on the edge. He's not the most consistent, so this represented a gamble from the Commanders. Thankfully for the coaching staff, he rose to the challenge in a hostile environment.
There was a lot to like about the way Scott went about his business. He was never going to be as dominant as Cosmi, but the lineman held his own and helped keep Jayden Daniels' pocket clean for the most part.
That was a big positive for Scott. If he gets the nod again, doing the same against Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis won't be as simple.