If it hadn't already arrived, we've officially reached the tipping point of the Washington Commanders' 2025 season. Everything that could have gone wrong had already gone wrong, and it somehow got even worse.
Washington trailed the Seattle Seahawks 28-0 in the first half on Sunday Night Football, and ultimately lost 38-14. Then, in the closing minutes of the blowout, quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered what's likely a season-ending injury to his elbow.
The Daniels injury will be the focus all week, but let's not let the Commanders' defense off the hook for yet another disastrous showing. This is the type of loss that gets people fired, and Washington has one clear candidate for the first head to roll.
Commanders could make Tommy Donatell a scapegoat for ongoing defensive frailties
The Commanders specified two weeks ago that they won't fire defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in-season, although after this performance, that may change. Then again, in what's now officially a lost season, what would even be the point?
If there are any immediate firings after the Week 9 defeat, it will likely start at the positional level. One of Washington's individual groups has massively underachieved expectations all year, with scheming to blame for much of the disappointment. That would be, of course, the defensive backs.
Marshon Lattimore, who also left the contest with an injury, has been a shell of his former Pro Bowl-level self. Mike Sainristil has regressed from a strong rookie campaign, though he has at least been active in forcing turnovers, catching his third interception of the year against Seattle. Rookie Trey Amos has been the bright spot, and even he's gone through his noticeable growing pains.
At some point, it falls to coaching.
Defensive backs coach Tommy Donatell was part of the staff assembled by Dan Quinn in 2024, and whether justified or not, he's an obvious scapegoat candidate. He's certainly not where the Commanders' problems start and end, but he's not contributing to any solutions either.
The Commanders' coaching staff will be under more fire than ever this week, especially after Daniels was hung out to dry and ultimately injured in the fourth quarter. Something is going to have to give, and someone is going to take the fall. It's only a matter of who.
It's anyone's guess as to which members of Washington's coaching staff will survive this season. This seems like a good time to start cleaning house, and Donatell may be the first to go.
As for the underperforming players? Some of them should also be nervously looking over their shoulders with the trade deadline looming large.