After appearing in the 2020-21 postseason, Washington missed last year’s playoffs with a 7-10 record. The Commanders seem to be at a standstill after a poor offseason.
Improvements: Wide Receiver
On paper, the Commanders’ receiving corps looks the part. They have Terry McLaurin as the star, Curtis Samuel as a solid No. 2, and Jahan Dotson with a high ceiling. However, can Samuel stay healthy? Will Dotson turn out? Only time will tell.
The first-round wideout, Dotson, brings an all-around skill set. His ability to reel in contested catches is Dotson’s biggest strength.
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Jahan Dotson…. pic.twitter.com/OwRUpwh4oi
— John Keim (@john_keim) June 8, 2022
This should blend nicely with the do-it-all McLaurin and explosive Samuel.
Washington needs a solution at quarterback to fully utilize its weapons.
Stayed the Same: Quarterback
Since Kirk Cousins left, the Commanders cannot figure out QB. Ryan Fitzpatrick was brought in last season, but sustained a season-ending injury. The job fell to Taylor Heinicke; he had a decent year.
Washington went with another temporary fix. They traded for Carson Wentz, but is that a solution? Wentz is past his prime and constantly battles injuries. The Commanders got terrific value with Sam Howell in the fifth round. Heinicke remains the immediate backup; Howell is a long-term project.
Until quarterback is solved, the Commanders are going nowhere fast.
Got Worse: Offensive Line
Washington’s offensive line has been good since 2020. But, this could change after Brandon Scherff’s departure. He signed a massive 3-year, $49.5 million deal with the Jaguars. In addition, Ereck Flowers will not be back.
The Commanders replaced their starting guards with Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner. Both are solid options, but past their primes. The O-line should be solid with a slight drop in production.
This could greatly impact offensive output. Even with a good line, Washington’s offense has been poor with bad QB play. It could get worse with another mediocre QB and worse O-line.
Grade: D
Improving the wide receiver corps was the only real improvement. But, receivers depend on QB play. The Commanders did not solve their desperate quarterback situation. Therefore, Washington’s outlook for the 2022-23 season looks dull.
Schedule:
- Week 1: 9/11 vs Jaguars, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 2: 9/18 at Lions, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 3: 9/25 vs Eagles, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 4: 10/2 at Cowboys, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 5: 10/9 vs Titans, 1 PM, CBS
- Week 6: 10/13 at Bears (Thursday), 8:15 PM, Amazon Prime Video
- Week 7: 10/23 vs Packers, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 8: 10/30 at Colts, 4:25 PM, Fox
- Week 9: 11/6 vs Vikings, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 10: 11/14 at Eagles (Monday), 8:15 PM, ESPN
- Week 11: 11/20 at Texans, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 12: 11/27 vs Falcons, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 13: 12/4 at Giants, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: 12/17 or 12/18 vs Giants, TBD, TBD
- Week 16: 12/24 at 49ers (Saturday), 4:05 PM, Fox
- Week 17: 1/1 vs Browns, 1 PM, Fox
- Week 18: 1/7 or 1/8 vs Cowboys, TBD, TBD