Things couldn't have gone much worse for the Washington Commanders in Week 2. Not only did they suffer a humbling loss to the Green Bay Packers, but head coach Dan Quinn is also dealing with some significant injury issues that have the scope to impact depth and hurt the team's chances.
Adam Peters must be ready to react, and quickly.
Veteran defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. and running back Austin Ekeler have already been ruled out for the season with quad and Achilles problems, respectively. This represents a huge blow, but it could get even worse.
Blocking tight end John Bates and wide receiver Noah Brown both sustained groin issues at Lambeau Field. If they're also forced to miss games, the need for reinforcements cannot be overstated. And there is also increasing concern around quarterback Jayden Daniels, whose knee injury was problematic enough to get an MRI.
Commanders must be ready to react amid deepening injury crisis
It's early days, but it already looks like things are starting to unravel for the Commanders. They have a mini-bye week to rectify issues and improve health, but Peters cannot sit on his hands. There is too much at stake not to be aggressive, especially after going all-in for a Super Bowl to maximize Daniels' rookie contract this offseason.
Peters got some extra salary-cap space by restructuring left tackle Laremy Tunsil's contract. That could come in handy much sooner than expected. The Commanders need another edge presence. They might stand pat at running back, but bringing another savvy veteran onto the practice squad wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
If Brown and Bates miss time, another wide receiver would be preferred over a tight end. The Commanders have Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, and Colson Yankoff to pick up the slack, although neither youngster got an increase in snaps once the veteran went out of the lineup at Lambeau Field.
This is a defining moment for Peters. He's done a wonderful job of revamping the Commanders' roster in difficult circumstances. The front-office leader must keep his foot on the throttle and find solutions to his ever-growing list of problems. That's the only way Washington's momentum will be sustained.
A critical few days await. The injury news must provoke a response from Peters. There might be faith in those lower down the depth chart, but the Commanders cannot leave anything to chance or be left short in their quest to mount another deep postseason.
Watch this space…
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