After Jaylin Lane muffed several returns in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, some thought wide receiver Luke McCaffrey could secure his place on the Washington Commanders' game-day roster against the Seattle Seahawks.
Head coach Dan Quinn agreed.
McCaffrey was active for the first time in Washington's home opener at Northwest Stadium. This was an encouraging development for the 2024 third-round selection, who made the squad this season but is pretty low down the pecking order right now.
Luke McCaffrey could be back in the Commanders' good graces
And all it took was another indifferent special-teams outing from Lane to turn the tide.
But if he cannot seize the moment, one has to wonder if McCaffrey could become a trade candidate before the deadline if the same trend continues.
While McCaffrey wasn't involved in the offensive rotation much last season, he caught the eye as a kick returner in the passing game before breaking his collarbone. He was putting up Pro Bowl-caliber numbers, looking explosive and elusive in equal measure.
That was last year.
Now, McCaffrey is out of favor and firmly on the fringes. But he gets another chance to prove his worth versus a league powerhouse.
And if he's being considered to replace Lane after his subpar outing in Dallas, all hope might not be lost just yet.
Luke McCaffrey must seize his moment to secure Commanders future
The Commanders knew that McCaffrey was always going to be a project despite drafting him No. 100 overall in 2024. He converted to the receiver position in college, so more development was required. He can get open and is a threat after the catch, but the trust just isn't there yet.
But this is another chance.
And given where McCaffrey currently sits in the wideout food chain, he would be wise to seize the moment and give himself a fighting chance moving forward.
McCaffrey came into the Commanders with so much promise, and his work on special teams last year gave even more reason for optimism. The broken collarbone came at the worst time, and Washington couldn't wait around on the off-chance he put everything together.
Lane might be on a short leash, so activating McCaffrey gives them another option. And this might be the spark that finally ignites his career back to life.
That's all McCaffrey can do. But the chances of the Rice product becoming a core part of Washington's long-term plansremain precarious.
Commanders inactives against the Seahawks in Week 3
- QB Jayden Daniels
- LB Frankie Luvu
- S Nick Cross
- OL Sam Cosmi
- OLB Javontae Jean-Baptiste
- TE Chig Okonkwo
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