Dan Quinn is taking over defensive play-calling responsibilities from Joe Whitt Jr. after another capitulation from the Washington Commanders in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. And the head coach is not playing with a full deck.
The Commanders are dealing with some crippling injuries that have played a significant role in the team's downfall. Quinn isn't using them as an excuse, but it's debilitated a defensive unit that wasn't exactly elite, to begin with.
It's been one blow after another. Last week, it was veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore's torn ACL versus the Seattle Seahawks. This week, it's rookie second-rounder Trey Amos, who's been arguably the most consistent performer in Washington's secondary this season.
Commanders got bad news around rookie cornerback Trey Amos' injury
Amos went out relatively early against the Lions and didn't return. The concerns were immediate, and given how things have gone for the Commanders this season, fans were bracing for more bad news.
Quinn duly obliged. He confirmed that the former Ole Miss standout suffered a fractured fibula and will be out for a while. Much will depend on the fracture's severity, but there's a chance that the Commanders will be without the No. 61 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft for the rest of the campaign.
This leaves the Commanders' cornerback options as threadbare at best. Mike Sainristil, Jonathan Jones, and Noah Igbinoghene are the starting trio almost by default. Antonio Hamilton Sr. is the only other cornerback on the 53-man roster right now. However, Tre Hawkins III, Darius Rush, or perhaps even undrafted rookie Car'lin Vigers could be elevated from the practice squad.
It is far from ideal. The Commanders were expecting their cornerback unit to be among their legitimate strengths this season, but they've fallen by the wayside. And with Lattimore and now Amos on the shelf, this is something the Miami Dolphins (and everyone else) will be looking to exploit moving forward.
Quinn has got his work cut out trying to galvanize this defense. He didn't have much choice but to take the reins. Whitt wasn't getting a tune out of his players, and the head coach went to his last resort.
He'll now have to improve matters without his two starting options on the boundary. That's without counting the depleted edge rushers, defensive tackle Daron Payne's suspension for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown, suspect linebacking play, and safeties who cannot tackle effectively.
Amos' future remains incredibly bright with a full recovery. But not having him for the foreseeable future isn't exactly going to assist Quinn's cause.