7 Commanders players on the hot seat entering Preseason Week 3 vs Patriots
By Dean Jones
Jeff Driskel - Commanders QB
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels won't be risked during the Washington Commanders' last preseason commitment against the New England Patriots. Although disappointing to the fans attending, it's the right call to make after head coach Dan Quinn officially named him as QB1.
Marcus Mariota is dealing with an injury and might not be risked, either. This puts Jeff Driskel firmly in the spotlight as the veteran looks to get an extended stay with the Commanders in some capacity.
One could make a strong case that Driskel has outperformed Mariota throughout the summer. He's made some impressive throws and kept mistakes to a minimum. His chances of making the team appear slim, but a place on the practice squad looks within reason depending on how the Commanders perceive undrafted free agent Sam Hartman's long-term prospects.
Driskel's been around the block a few times. He knows the situation he's facing and what might come next regardless of how well he performs. But the signal-caller can ensure some tough conversations take place with a solid showing versus the Patriots.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Commanders CB
There have been some nice moments from Emmanuel Forbes Jr. this offseason. The cornerback also went through significant complications that highlight his precarious situation heading into the 2024 campaign.
While it's highly unlikely that Forbes won't be on the squad in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his role remains a mystery. The former first-round pick seems firmly behind Benjamin St-Juste and Michael Davis in the pecking order. Rookie second-rounder Mike Sainristil is also taking reps on the outside, which is another indicator of the coaching staff's lack of confidence in the Mississippi State product.
This is about how best to utilize Forbes while he develops. He doesn't look capable of covering the elite-level wideouts as previous head coach Ron Rivera envisaged. However, a strong performance against the New England Patriots will go some way to alleviating concerns.
Adam Peters has removed several Rivera draft picks who he felt weren't a good fit. It's unlikely the Commanders will give up on Forbes after just one season, but the need to remove doubts about his long-term future cannot be overstated.
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