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.
Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR
Once touted as an almost consensus breakout candidate by the regional and national media, Jahan Dotson looks anything but through the opening six weeks. While pressing the panic button seems foolish given the obvious talent at his disposal, the wide receiver seems to be going through some confidence issues currently that cannot be overlooked.
Dotson has the physical gifts morally associated with productive NFL wideouts. Things haven't come together in 2023 as yet, but the former first-round selection out of Penn State still has the full backing of players and coaches alike amid his recent struggles.
Another critical drop at the Atlanta Falcons from what proved to be his only target was the latest disappointment where Dotson's concerned. The player's been saying all the right things this week, but producing the goods when targeted is of paramount importance at the New York Giants in Week 7.
It might be worth Eric Bieniemy scheming up an easy completion or two for Dotson right out of the gate in the hope it can lead to something more as the game progresses. This represents the most efficient way for the Commanders to get him going, it's whether he can capitalize that represents the biggest question mark.
Dotson is far too talented to go through this slump all season. But the urgency for a big performance versus divisional opposition is there for all to see.
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT
In fairness to offensive tackle Andrew Wylie, his performances have improved slightly over the last fortnight following a rough opening to the campaign. The Washington Commanders are giving up way too many sacks and hits, but this is also down to quarterback Sam Howell's tendency to hold onto the football for too long when pressure arrives.
Wylie's overall contribution through six games could have been better. While it's unlikely the Commanders will move off their starting offensive tackle tandem for their important clash against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, the performance of Cornelius Lucas at the Atlanta Falcons increases the pressure to perform in no uncertain terms.
Lucas filled in admirably for Charles Leno Jr. after his devastating news in Week 6. This gives the Commanders a dilemma about what to do on both edges this weekend. Still, head coach Ron Rivera can at least relax safe in the knowledge he has a dependable swing option if the starters mentioned above cannot meet expectations.
The Commanders allocated decent money to Wylie in the hope he could solidify things opposite Leno during Howell's first season under center. He'll need to call on all his experience versus a Giants pass rush loaded with productive performers who have no trouble snuffing out weakness and exploiting it accordingly.
If there was ever a time for Wylie to have a statement game, this is it.
Emmanuel Forbes - Commanders CB
After getting torched by A.J. Brown and D.J. Moore in consecutive weeks, the Washington Commanders took Emmanuel Forbes completely out of the firing line at the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie cornerback wasn't allocated a single defensive snap, which gave him a chance to watch things unfolding from the sideline and take mental reps in the hope of better fortunes moving forward.
Whether the Commanders throw Forbes back into the fire this weekend at the New York Giants remains to be seen. Danny Johnson is performing well with additional responsibilities, but Kendall Fuller might not be at 100 percent after missing practices this week with a knee issue.
That means a few rotational snaps could be coming Forbes' way. And when he's on the field, one would expect a bright offensive mind such as Brian Daboll to target him heavily.
If this scenario comes to fruition, Forbes has to make plays. The Commanders didn't draft him at No. 16 overall to be a development project - they expected an immediate contributor and they're just not seeing enough from the Mississippi State product as it stands.
All hope is not lost for Forbes this early into his NFL career. But if his number is called against a passing attack not exactly blessed with dynamic weapons and a backup quarterback likely to be under center, he must stand up and make his presence felt.
Otherwise, doubts about his long-term future will only linger.
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