4 Commanders players entering the last chance saloon before 2023 bye week
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders players are entering the last chance saloon ahead of the team's eagerly anticipated 2023 bye week?
The Washington Commanders are one defeat away from their fourth-straight losing season under head coach Ron Rivera. Considering this was the year where huge strides were supposed to be made under new ownership, it's been largely underwhelming and almost guarantees big changes to the coaching infrastructure once the 2023 season concludes.
Firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio does nothing to change Rivera's status with five games remaining. The Commanders should also be running out of patience with the large majority of players who haven't met even modest targets throughout the campaign.
Washington is loaded with an abundance of draft picks and significant salary-cap space in 2024. This not only makes them an enticing potential destination for any head coach or general manager, but it should also allow them to move on from certain individuals in the locker room as part of their plans for progress.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders entering the last chances saloon in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins - the final chance to impress before Washington's long-awaited bye.
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
The novelty has worn off regarding Chris Paul occupying a starting berth. His production during his first start was encouraging, but it's been a steady decline after that and if nothing improves against the Miami Dolphins, it might be time for the Washington Commanders to cut this particular experiment short.
Paul is a big body, which is one of the primary reasons Ron Rivera elevated him in favor of the injured Saahdiq Charles. However, he's a liability in pass protection and cannot seem to generate enough functional strength to carve up running lanes more often than not.
That's a dangerous combination for an offensive lineman. Paul's given up four sacks and boasts a less-than-stellar 44.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, which tells its own story.