3 personnel decisions Commanders should regret at the 2023 midseason point
By Dean Jones
What personnel decisions should the Washington Commanders regret based on what's transpired up to the 2023 midseason point?
The Washington Commanders still harbor slim hopes about reaching a wildcard berth. Ron Rivera's men ended a concerning slump at the New England Patriots in Week 9, but there is still much hard work ahead to improve fortunes over the second half of 2023.
Expectations were tempered during the offseason despite Josh Harris' ownership group coming into the fold. There wasn't much cash to spend and the Commanders reside in a highly competitive NFC East division, so any bold predictions of contention were done more in hope than expectation.
Washington is 4-5 as it stands after starting the season with two consecutive triumphs. Seats are getting warmer as Harris involves himself in the football operation, but the same fight needs to remain within the locker room with some tricky-looking games upcoming.
Based on what we've witnessed up to the midseason point, which personnel moves made during the offseason should the Commanders already regret?
Commanders LB switch
Despite performing relatively well in 2022, the Washington Commanders opted to take their chances without linebacker Cole Holcomb. They replaced him with Cody Barton, who came to D.C. off a career season with the Seattle Seahawks and was seen as the perfect partner for Jamin Davis.
Barton turned in a series of disappointing efforts before he went to injured/reserve. Holcomb signed for the Pittsburgh Steelers and played well before a significant injury curtailed his season in the blink of an eye, which will involve some significant rehabilitation before returning to action.
Not bringing Holcomb back was a hot topic of discussion. It's who they brought in to fill the void that represented the biggest problem.