Commanders News: Jack Del Rio, Terry McLaurin, Ron Rivera and coveted jobs

Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines as shockwaves continue to reverberate following Jack Del Rio's firing?

Look on the bright side, at least the Washington Commanders won't ruin your Sunday this week. They lost on Thursday afternoon instead, which led to the firing of defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as Ron Rivera played his final card in the hope of salvaging something from the campaign.

For now, fans can enjoy watching football without the stress attached this afternoon. In the meantime, the stories causing conversation include Washington being tabbed as a coveted destination, Ron Rivera's immediate job status, a former head coach sounding off on Jack Del Rio, and Terry McLaurin's bemusement.

Let's delve into each topic in more detail.

Jay Gruden sounds off on former Commanders DC

It almost seemed inevitable that Jack Del Rio and the Washington Commanders would go their separate ways after another embarrassing defensive performance at the Dallas Cowboys. Giving up big plays almost at will and conceding 45 points for good measure was the straw that broke the camel's back, which was a long time coming based on how things have unfolded this season.

Former Washington head coach Jay Gruden sounded off on Del Rio via social media, wondering why the Commanders' defense was among the league's worst when they've invested so much into all three levels through free agency and the draft.

"How can u have 4 first-round D linemen, a first-round LB, a first-round corner, a third-round corner that got paid, and be 32nd in defense?"

- Jay Gruden via X/Twitter

This - along with many other factors - played a leading role in Del Rio's demise. The defensive players downed their proverbial tools on Thanksgiving with the entire NFL world watching, so whether they can raise performance levels with head coach Ron Rivera calling plays remains to be seen.