The Washington Commanders' wide receiver dynamic was always going to change in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. Terry McLaurin was entering his second game back, and fellow wideout Noah Brown also got the all-clear to return after a lengthy absence.
Someone was going to make way. Treylon Burks, who caught a stunning touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos, saw his snaps diminish and was targeted just once. The Commanders also made their stance on rollercoaster rookie Jaylin Lane crystal clear.
Despite Lane doing his best work from the slot, the Commanders made him an afterthought. He played just six offensive snaps in the blowout embarrassment, a damning indictment of how those in power perceive the versatile weapon's progress in Year 1 of his career.
Commanders need to get Jaylin Lane more involved as attention turns to evaluation
Lane was always considered a work in progress. Finding out how his skills can best fit the offense remains a conundrum, but the former Virginia Tech standout has cemented his status as the team's kick returner. But for him to become more than just a specialist, some significant development is required.
Obviously, head coach Dan Quinn is trying to salvage some positivity from a disastrous campaign. He is more comfortable doing that with veteran players right now and is reluctant to rely more on young players with less experience in a competitive NFL setting. But with the Commanders officially out of playoff contention — not like they had much of a chance to begin with — that approach must change over the final four contests of the campaign.
The Commanders don't have anything left to lose. They need to evaluate what they have before embarking on a critical offseason. The likes of Brown and Deebo Samuel Sr. might not be part of the team's plans moving forward. That means giving Lane and Burks more looks in the passing game comes with far greater long-term upside attached.
Giving Lane some token reps in a complete blowout doesn't benefit anybody. The Commanders should be striving to win, of course, but they should also make a concerted effort to put more on the plate of those who'll be aiming for more substantial roles down the line. Anything less is organizational malpractice at 3-10.
With 16 receptions from 31 targets for 220 receiving yards and a lowly 48.5 passer rating when targeted, the early jury is still out on Lane. But if he can get more involved and come up with a few notable catches down the stretch, that's only going to serve him well before his sophomore NFL campaign.
If not, doubts around Lane's outlook will only grow.