2 former Commanders players who struggled (and 1 who thrived) in Week 5

After a 4-1 start for the Washington Commanders, things are looking up for the first time in years. General manager Adam Peters' dramatic roster turnover from the offseason is looking more like the correct call with every impressive victory that comes their way.

Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns was the closest thing to a procession you'll find in the NFL. Jayden Daniels wasn't at his best, but it was more than enough to get the job done behind a defense that has shown positive signs over the last two contests.

With that being said, we will look at some former Commanders players and see how Week 5 went for them.

All statistics and snap counts are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Former Commanders players who struggled in Week 5

Joey Slye

Another position the Commanders seem to have figured out is kicker. Austin Seibert's been a revelation since joining the team and still has a 100 percent record on field goals after another flawless effort against the Browns.

Last year, Joey Slye was the man kicking for Washington. The best way to describe him is inconsistent. He would make a 60-yard field goal and then miss an extra point. He has been pretty solid for the New England Patriots this season, except for this week.

Slye went one-for-two on field goal tries in Week 5 versus the Miami Dolphins. His miss came from 33 yards out and would have given the Patriots a 10-7 lead going into half-time. This was a big momentum loss and could be looked at as a big reason for New England's defeat.

Montez Sweat

After an elite career with the Washington Commanders, Montez Sweat has not had the best second season with the Chicago Bears. This trend continued for the defensive end in Week 5.

The Bears defeated the Carolina Panthers, so the defense for the most part played well. Sweat was not one of them. He only totaled one pressure and zero tackles in the whole game. He didn't excel in run defense, either.

One former Commanders player who thrived in Week 5

Kirk Cousins

After a rough start to the season, Kirk Cousins might be back to himself after an enormous Week 5 primetime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran signal-caller completed 42 of his whopping 58 passing attempts for 509 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.

His 509 passing yards was good for the Atlanta Falcons single game passing yards record. Cousins put the team on his back, spreading the ball to everyone on his offense. He led a final regulation drive to set up a Younghoe Koo game-tying field goal.

In overtime, Cousins completed a pass to KhaDarel Hodge, which went for a 45-yard touchdown to win the game.

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