It's been a trial by fire for many Washington Commanders players this season. Dan Quinn and the coaching staff have navigated some turbulent times on the injury front, with several established stars either out for the year or missing games when a strong start was crucial.
The fact that Washington is 3-2 through five games is a testament to the improved depth and fierce resolve across the roster. This group is made of stern stuff under Quinn. And now that players are getting healthy again, fans are expecting them to kick on despite a tough-looking stretch of games upcoming before their bye week.
This collective effort is the brotherhood Quinn preaches almost constantly. When their numbers are called, everyone is ready. It might not be perfect right now, but it could be a lot worse. And their emphatic victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5 was the statement everyone was hoping to see.
There is now a sufficient sample size. The Commanders can reach the postseason and potentially make some noise. If they can come through some complex challenges in the coming weeks, that will cement their status among the NFC favorites. Anything less, and it won't take long for questions to arise.
But there are also some players that Commanders fans are still trying to figure out through five contests in 2025. Here are five prime examples.
Commanders players the fans still can’t figure out through five games
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL
When the Washington Commanders' offensive line crumbled in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury took drastic action. Replacing the two starting guards was a calculated risk, but it's paid off handsomely.
Chris Paul has been a surprising revelation at the left guard spot. On the right-hand side, Andrew Wylie is displaying the accomplished production that fans barely got to see for two seasons on the edge.
Wylie's been an easy scapegoat for Commanders fans since joining the club in 2023. He got overexposed on an island as the starting right tackle, leaving Adam Peters with no option other than to spend a first-round pick on Josh Conerly Jr.
He brought stability to the interior at a time when it was desperately needed. However, with right guard Sam Cosmi's return from a torn ACL imminent, Wylie is about to go back to the fringes.
Although disappointing from the player's perspective, Cosmi is a noticeable upgrade. Fans are still trying to determine if Wylie can be a dependable rotational piece worthy of another contract. But this surge in consistency could work in his favor next spring if the money is right.