If the Washington Commanders needed another reminder about how far away they are from the contending teams right now, the Philadelphia Eagles provided it in Week 16. It was another outing in which head coach Dan Quinn's squad squandered an early lead, leaving far more questions than answers about the franchise's current direction.
Massive changes are coming to the playing personnel this offseason. Pressure is building after a campaign that promised much but delivered very little. And the team's latest embarrassment confirmed one simple roster decision that should happen almost as soon as the campaign concludes.
The Commanders need to rethink their quarterback situation behind Jayden Daniels. Marcus Mariota is servicable, but he might be looking for a chance to start somewhere else when 2026 free agency arrives. The veteran left the contest at Northwest Stadium with a hand injury, which left Washington relying on journeyman Josh Johnson to possibly inspire an unlikely comeback.
Commanders need to rethink their recruitment behind Jayden Daniels
Johnson has played for more clubs than any player in NFL history. That speaks to his adaptability and longevity, but the fact that he hasn't been able to stick around anywhere says a lot. And when his time in the spotlight arrived in Week 16, he failed to generate the momentum needed.
It's been a long time since Johnson took live-fire reps in a competitive setting, and it showed. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights, hesitant to get rid of the football and inviting constant pressure. He threw an interception, lost a fumble that was fortunately recovered, and his only decent throw came back for a penalty. This should be the last time he sees the field in Washington.
If Mariota cannot recover in time for Christmas Day against the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders need to either start practice-squad player Sam Hartman or get someone in off the street, because nothing could be worse than trotting Johnson out there again.
Of course, Johnson is a QB3, so there are bigger priorities to solve. His introduction into the lineup is a microcosm of how things have unfolded for Washington on the injury front this season. At the same time, it should also serve as a reminder to general manager Adam Peters that every base must be covered effectively.
Hartman is younger. He's been nothing more than a glorified cheerleader since joining the Commanders, and his close relationship with Daniels is probably why he's still around. Still, Washington has nothing to lose over the next two games, so throwing the Notre Dame product into the fire has to be a better option than Johnson at such a late stage of his playing career if Mariota cannot go.
After all, it's not like things could get much worse before an offseason reset.