Commanders News: Sam Howell, Kendall Fuller, Ron Rivera and Bill Belichick

Commanders HC Ron Rivera's status

Ron Rivera is fighting for his future this season. That was the scenario facing the head coach from the exact moment Josh Harris' ownership group bought the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder - something he's experienced once before after David Tepper took over at the Carolina Panthers.

Rivera finds his team at .500 through six weeks, which is par for the course. Avoiding a fourth-straight defeat last weekend at the Atlanta Falcons was essential to avoid further pressure from piling up, but Bucky Brooks from FOX Sports stated that things are still hanging in the balance for the figurehead in one of football's hottest seats.

"The two-time NFL Coach of the Year was expected to bring stability and a winning pedigree to an organization that endured two decades of chaos under Daniel Snyder. Despite guiding the Commanders to a playoff appearance in 2020, the team has never posted a winning mark under his direction, and the underachievement could result in a pink slip from new ownership at season's end. Perhaps Sam Howell's emergence as an intriguing QB can buy [Ron] Rivera some time to fix an underachieving defense loaded with first-round talent. If the Commanders post another sub-.500 mark or miss the playoffs for the third straight season, it will be hard for Washington's new ownership group to keep Rivera around, considering the lack of wins throughout his tenure."

- Bucky Brooks, FOX Sports

Taking things one game at a time and rolling with the punches remains the best course of action for Rivera. The players are fighting with him every step of the way, but the jury is still out as to whether Harris and his wealthy benefactors give him another season.