The Washington Commanders are facing an intense challenge heading into their upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles due to what’s been labeled an “absurd” NFL scheduling quirk.
After a 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 10, the Commanders have just four days to prepare for their NFC East clash against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The tight turnaround is an especially tough blow for a team already dealing with fatigue and numerous injuries, especially since they’re still waiting for a bye week. According to Al Galdi of The Washington Post, “The #Commanders are running on fumes right now.
Banged-up big time. Next game is in just four days. The absolute latest that an NFL team can have a bye is Week 14. Washington this season inexplicably has a Week 14 bye for a third consecutive season. Absurd.”
This consistently late bye week presents a tough challenge for a team trying to rebuild depth and quality in key areas.
Fortunately, the Commanders do have one key player returning for the matchup in Philadelphia.
Commanders Battling Injuries Leading up to Eagles Game
This brutal schedule and lack of depth have put extra strain on core players on both offense and defense. Star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, may be hitting a rookie wall, as he completed only 50 percent of his passes against the Steelers. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin even downplayed the hype surrounding Daniels, citing his struggles.
Daniels hasn’t had much help from a receiver corps that’s been inconsistent beyond top target Terry McLaurin. The Commanders’ running game has also struggled while lead back Brian Robinson Jr. has been sidelined with a knee injury.
On defense, the problems are just as significant, especially along the line. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and rookie edge-rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste are both on injured reserve, which has limited how often head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. can rotate along the defensive front.
To address secondary issues, Quinn and general manager Adam Peters traded for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. However, Lattimore is still set to miss his second-straight game due to a hamstring injury, according to Galdi’s colleague Nicki Jhabvala.
While injuries persist, the Commanders should be healthy enough in critical positions to challenge the Eagles, especially with a key player returning to the lineup.
Brian Robinson Jr.’s Return Could Ease Schedule Burden
Without Robinson, the Commanders have been relying on a trio of Austin Ekeler, veteran Jeremy McNichols, and practice-squad call-up Chris Rodriguez Jr. to sustain their ground game with mixed results.
Robinson, however, was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, November 13, and is expected to be active for Thursday Night Football, per Senior Writer Zach Selby of Commanders.com.
Robinson is the reliable, workhorse back needed for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s system. A revitalized running game could help the Commanders reverse a troubling pattern: two of their three losses have come against teams with winning records (Steelers and Baltimore Ravens), suggesting they’re capable of beating weaker teams but still struggling against top-tier competition.
After Week 11, the Commanders have only two remaining games against teams with winning records. One is a rematch with the Eagles in Week 16, which could determine the NFC East winner, and the other is a Week 17 showdown with the 6-4 Atlanta Falcons. While the schedule might be wearing down the Commanders, it still seems to favor Quinn’s team overall.