In their season opener against the New York Giants Sunday, the Washington Commanders were able to take care of business and kick off the year in the win column. This would not have been possible if not for the strong play from one of their new additions.
Following their deep playoff run in 2024, the Commanders quickly started improving the cast of talent around their top prospect in QB Jayden Daniels. Among the first things they did was secure him another viable target on the outside by trading for San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel.
Coming into this next faze of his career, Samuel had a lot to prove. He's faced his fair share of criticism over the last few months for a variety of reasons. For starters, he is coming off a down year. On top of that, he faced backlash for looking out of shape during mandatory minicamp.
Also read:Washington Commanders Wide Receiver Sends Message After Strong Debut
In Washington's 21-6 win over the Giants, Samuel quieted his critics and showed the Commanders he is capable of elevating their offense.
Commanders WR Deebo Samuel cited as winner in Week 1
Samuel led the Commanders in receiving yards in his debut with 77 across seven receptions. He also showcased his versatility by lining up in the backfield and ripping off a 19-yard run for a touchdown.
Amid his strong debut, the narrative has quickly started to change around Samuel and what kind of impact he can have for Washington.
In a recent column for Bleacher Report, Brent Sobleski broke down winners and losers from each matchup of opening weekend. While discussing the Commanders' victory, he dubbed Samuel as the most noteworthy standout.
"Veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel had himself a day against the Giants, with 10 targets (most on the team), seven catches (more than twice as many as any other Commander), a team-leading 77 receiving yards and a touchdown on a 19-yard end-around," Sobleski wrote. "On a day when Terry McLaurin had just four targets and two catches, Samuel was the focal point of the Washington passing game."
Many wondered if Samuel still had any semblance of his old self left, and he showed Sunday that he has something still left in the tank. Now with a strong outing under his belt, the veteran will attempt to build off it as he continues to grow into a key contributor for the Commanders.
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