4 Commanders on the hot seat entering Week 8 vs. Eagles
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders find themselves firmly on the hot seat entering their divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8?
Nobody is expecting much from the Washington Commanders this weekend. A big response is obviously essential after such an embarrassing loss at the New York Giants, but the prospect of beating a red-hot Philadelphia Eagles team looking to go one better and win the Super Bowl this season looks like a tall order.
However, that was also the case before their game earlier in 2023. The Commanders rose to the occasion then, launching a stunning fightback and almost emerging victorious before falling in overtime.
This should provide some confidence. But for many within the franchise, it's rapidly approaching a now-or-never situation with Josh Harris' ownership already beginning to implement changes in keeping with their preferred way of thinking.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders firmly on the hot seat in Week 8 at FedEx Field.
Nick Gates - Commanders OL
Change is coming to the Washington Commanders' offensive line thanks in no small part to Saahdiq Charles' injury struggles. Tyler Larsen was seen snapping the football to Sam Howell in practice this week, which indicates Nick Gates could be switching to left guard unless there is a drastic change of heart in the coming days.
Gates has been underwhelming at the center position since arriving in free agency from the New York Giants. He has the versatility to provide an upgrade on Charles, but there's just no telling for sure when one examines his full body of work throughout the campaign.
If Gates cannot meet expectations and Larsen thrives in this scenario, a situation could emerge where the former Nebraska star is relegated to backup duties once Charles is healthy enough to participate.