4 Commanders players who could be benched in Week 16 at the NY Jets
By Dean Jones
Commanders could bench Percy Butler
When starting safety Darrick Forrest went down, it represented a big-time blow to an already struggling secondary. It was also Percy Butler's big chance to prove his worth as a prominent member of the defensive rotation.
The Washington Commanders had high hopes for Butler after flashing as a rookie in 2022. Unfortunately for the player and the organization, his performances have been subpar more often than not with increased responsibilities on his shoulders.
Butler is having a hard time adjusting to different coverages. This is also exposing Kamren Curl on occasion and failing to provide the struggling cornerback unit with enough security on the backend to further complicate matters.
The former Louisiana standout is conceding a 137.1 passer rating when targeted. Butler is making an impact against the run - albeit inconsistently - but what comes next for the player after this season remains to be seen.
One could make a strong case for taking Butler out of the firing line from a starting role. Being part of the rotation and assisting on special teams might bring a turnaround in fortunes. But it's not like the Commanders are blessed with great safety depth with Forrest out and Jeremy Reaves on the road to recovery following a torn ACL.