4 Commanders players on the hot seat entering Week 7 at NY Giants
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders players find themselves on the hot seat entering their crucial Week 7 game at the New York Giants?
Being favored on the road versus divisional opposition has been a foreign concept to the Washington Commanders in recent years. But after a hard-fought win against the Atlanta Falcons, confidence should be high heading into Week 7 at the New York Giants.
The Giants are currently 1-5 and going nowhere fast. This is not the same team that reached the divisional playoff round last season, with injuries and weaknesses across multiple key position groups playing a substantial role in their early demise.
Washington cannot take a win for granted despite quarterback Daniel Jones potentially missing another contest with a neck issue. And there are certain individuals under significant pressure to perform for one reason or another.
On this topic, here are four Commanders players on the hot seat at MetLife Stadium this weekend.
Saahdiq Charles - Commanders OL
After a decent start to the season, interior offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles has regressed slightly in recent weeks. This cannot continue when the former fourth-round selection comes up against a formidable New York Giants defensive front in Week 7.
This is an area of weakness experienced defensive coordinator Wink Martindale will aim to exploit. Former Giants offensive lineman and current Washington Commanders center Nick Gates can give those around him a helping hand in terms of what to expect, but this all comes down to whether Charles can withstand the pressure that's guaranteed to be coming his way.
Divisional games are normally won and lost in the trenches. Charles needs to put his unique athleticism to better use, or it might be another long afternoon of taking hits for quarterback Sam Howell.