5 Commanders players fighting for their future after the 2023 bye week

Curtis Samuel leads a group of five Washington Commanders players fighting for their futures after the 2023 bye week.

Every player on the Washington Commanders' roster is fair game to be replaced after this dismal season. Yet, five in particular are moving closer to the exit than most, including wide receiver Curtis Samuel.

Ron Rivera and his coaching staff have consistently failed to make full use of the versatility and talent at their disposal. It's both baffling and infuriating, especially when the depth chart is loaded with flexible playmakers, notably on offense.

Without further ado, here are five players running out of time to extend their time with the Commanders.

Curtis Samuel - Commanders WR

It says a lot that Curtis Samuel is on pace for his most productive season with the Washington Commanders, despite making just 51 catches. Quite why offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has failed to make greater use of his dual-threat skills is a mystery on two levels.

First, because Samuel has delivered on the rare occasions he's been featured. Like when he snagged nine catches for 100 receiving yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. It's the only time the Ohio State product has had double-digit targets this season.

The modest usage is a surprise considering offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is well-versed in a system suited to maximizing multi-faceted wideouts. It's what he did with players like Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Fortunately, Bieniemy appears to be designing concepts more suited to Samuel. Film analyst Mark Bullock broke down one such design against the Miami Dolphins.

Samuel is a free agent the Commanders should bring back cheap. He can help a quarterback in so many ways, provided he's given more chances after the bye.