Watching the Washington Commanders' linebacking corps go through significant issues has been painful for fans. Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu were both second-team All-Pro selections last season, forming a prolific tandem that became the heart of everything good defensively.
That is not the case this time around, and the cracks are beginning to show.
Wagner is looking his age, and not just in coverage. His exceptional football IQ allows him to anticipate where the play is headed, but he's noticeably slower getting to the contact point these days. Not even his most staunch defender could say otherwise after what the former Utah State standout has put on tape over the last two weeks.
Regarding Luvu, notoriety comes with extra attention from opposing defenses. He's not getting as much space, and blocking schemes are frequently targeting him. Joe Whitt Jr. has also altered his role slightly, which involves more time as a stand-up edge rusher — an area of the field in the midst of a grave injury crisis.
Commanders must get Jordan Magee more involved on the defensive rotation
Whitt has been willing to ride out the storm in the blind hope that things would improve naturally. That hasn't occurred, and the Commanders' complete capitulation against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 demands drastic measures.
If there was ever a time for Washington to get Jordan Magee more involved, it's now. Whitt's been hesitant, citing the player's lack of experience and recklessness as reasons behind keeping him on the proverbial fringes. But what he has that Wagner doesn't is explosiveness and aggression.
Magee won't always be in the correct spot, but his athleticism seemed capable of compensating for these issues during his time on the field at AT&T Stadium.
The 2024 fifth-round pick flashed when his number was called. Magee also made a couple of solid tackles in open space, which was another thing Whitt pointed to. He's got decent-enough coverage capabilities, and he plays with a youthful exuberance that's hard not to love.
He doesn't have Wagner's knowledge. He doesn't have Luvu's inspirational leadership. But the best way to learn is by doing, and the Commanders are running out of excuses for not featuring him more often.
If Wagner and Luvu were playing with the dominance they displayed during the 2024 campaign, this isn't even a discussion. Unfortunately, that's not the case, so the Commanders need to find a spark to avoid their season from spiraling into the proverbial abyss.
Magee might be that if they give him a chance. After all, it's not like things could get much worse.