4 winners (and 3 losers) from the Commanders' win vs. NY Giants in Week 2
By Dean Jones
Loser No. 1
Jamin Davis - Commanders DE
The first Washington Commanders loser came before a competitive down was played. Jamin Davis was a healthy scratch in Week 2 against the New York Giants, which was a surprising twist for the former first-round selection following his transition to an edge rushing role throughout the offseason.
This is a body blow for Davis' progress. The player flashed during limited involvement in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get another shot from Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s standpoint.
What the future holds for Davis is unclear. It's a contract year for the Kentucky product after the Commanders didn't pick up his option. He made encouraging strides over the summer, but others are ahead of him in the edge-rushing queue. The fact Washington elevated Carlos Rogers from the practice squad at his expense is a damning indictment.
All Davis can do is keep progressing and working hard. Everything else is out of his hands, but this latest development doesn't exactly bode well for his chances of featuring prominently under the new regime in 2024.
Winner No. 2
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
The Commanders were expecting big things from running back Brian Robinson Jr. this offseason. They wanted him to become their lead backfield threat despite signing veteran Austin Ekeler in free agency. After a solid enough game in Week 1, the former third-round selection propelled himself into a different stratosphere versus the New York Giants.
Robinson was an absolute revelation, demonstrating the patience and explosiveness to accumulate big plays almost at will. The Commanders leaned on him heavily to take the pressure off rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. It was a responsibility he was more than ready for.
The Alabama product eventually finished with 133 rushing yards from 17 carries. This equates to a whopping 7.8 yards per rush, which is a sensational number and something that helped the Commanders get a much-needed victory in their home opener.
This is the standard Robinson's now set for himself. Keeping this up is the next challenge, but confidence is high that the third-year pro can continue his evolution into an offensive focal point within a more balanced attack under play-caller Kliff Kingsbury.