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10 quick facts about Washington HOFer Art Monk
In 1984, Monk became the first player in NFL history to record more than 100 receptions in a single season, recording 106 catches for 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns. He also led the league with 154 targets that season.
Monk broke the NFL’s all-time record in career receptions during the 1992 season. Monk still has some of the most catches in league history and is currently ranked 24th ahead of Antonio Brown.
Although there have been several impressive receivers in Washington’s career, Monk remains the franchise’s best from a statistical standpoint. His career catches (888), targets (1,548) and yards (12,026) all lead the team among receivers, which his 65 career receiving touchdowns are second only to Charley Taylor.
Monk’s reliability has been ingrained into his reputation with the franchise. He caught passes in 183 consecutive games and had at least 35 receptions in each of his 14 seasons with Washington.
Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and received a standing ovation of four minutes and four seconds, which is considered to be the longest in NFL history.
Commanders.com
Practice notes | Commanders looking for solution to reignite running game
the Commanders’ last three losses show that the offense’s ground attack, which at one point this season was the best in the league, has struggled to find success. Although the Commanders are third in yards per game for the season, they ranked 20th in their last three games.
Although Monday’s results can be partially credited to the score getting away from the Commanders, their 28-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was the most concerning performance to date. They put up a season-low 60 rushing yards, including just 18 in the second half, on 20 carries with an eight-yard run by Marcus Mariota being the longest of the night.
“We didn’t love the targeting in the game for us,” Quinn said of the Chiefs game. “That’s a fancy term for who has who, and that’s a common thing. Defense that’s got multiple fronts and different looks, but we’ve got to be able to nail those down and make it really clean and really fast for us to go hit those targets.”
Washington Post (paywall)
Commanders quarterly report: Three-game skid sets up do-or-die stretch
Injuries, inconsistency and losses defined the second quarter of Washington’s season, which already has put the team’s playoff hopes in jeopardy.
After a 2-2 start to the season and an emphatic road win over the Los Angeles Chargers to begin October, the Commanders have lost three consecutive games, each in a slightly different fashion. There was the fumble at home against Chicago. The embarrassment of being blown out in Dallas. Then Monday night’s 28-7 defeat to Kansas City, which somehow seemed like progress even if the final score indicated a rout.
Now Washington is 3-5, with an ever-mounting injury list and an inconsistent identity.
There is a little more than half a season left to play and still room to carve out a path back to the playoffs. But that path is getting narrower every week. With a loss Sunday night to the Seattle Seahawks, it would essentially be a tightrope.
Commanders.com
NFC East roundup | Commanders prep for difficult primetime matchup
Standing out for the Seahawks on offense is wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who had eight receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown against the Texans. He’s a threat to the deep ball and can create explosive plays, something the Commanders’ defense struggled with in the second half of Monday night’s game. In the second half, the Chiefs put together three touchdown drives for a total of 249 yards and 105 of those yards came from just four plays, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby.
Seattle also has a strong ground game headed by running back Kenneth Walker II, who had 66 yards on 17 carries in Week 7, as well Zach Charbonnet, who had 12 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns the same week.
With the Philadelphia Eagles on bye this week, there likely won’t be much movement in the NFC East standings. However, a win over the Seahawks would help the Commanders’ bid for a return to the playoffs. Washington currently sits at No. 3 in the division and is hoping to break a three-game skid on Sunday.
New York is taking on an equally injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers team that is also coming off a loss. The 49ers lost linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), defensive end Nick Bosa (ACL) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee). Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) are questionable to play, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
In Purdy’s six-game absence, backup Mac Jones has led the team to wins in four of six starts. Jones, however, is considered day-to-day with a knee injury he sustained in the 49ers 26-15 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 8.
The Cowboys’ No. 2 ranked offense came up short against the Denver Broncos, 44-24, who claimed their fifth-straight victory to remain undefeated at home. Since tying Green Bay in Week 4, the Cowboys haven’t had any steady streaks alternating between wins and losses. The lack of consistency is something they will aim to set straight against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
A to Z Sports
Commanders must beat the Seahawks to stay alive
Making it to the playoffs shouldn’t be a thought right now, as the team has lost three games in a row, but that’s always the ultimate goal. The Commanders are now 13th in the NFC, while the Seahawks are currently the fourth seed if the season ended today. A loss drops the Commanders’ playoff chances to 5%, while a win is a big boost to 18%.
The Commanders also have one of the hardest remaining schedules with the Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and the Philadelphia Eagles twice before the season ends. A loss to the Seahawks means the Commanders would likely have to beat five of the last six NFC teams to even have a shot at the playoffs. They’ve already lost to two potential wild-card teams in the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons, so they’re playing from behind the rest of the season.
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL trade deadline 2025: Latest team chatter, predictions and players to watch
Washington Commanders
Brandon Coleman, a 2024 third-round pick who can play left tackle and guard, could garner interest from teams in need of O-line depth. Coleman was benched after two starts at guard this season, then finally active again on Monday, taking over for Laremy Tunsil after the veteran tackle suffered a hamstring injury. That injury might be enough for Washington to consider keeping Coleman around, if it was ever truly contemplating moving on from him.
Noah Igbinoghene, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft who has played a reserve role for the Commanders the last two seasons, is one of only a few pending free agents under the age of 27 (he’ll be 26 in November). The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported in August that Washington was, at the time, shopping Igbinoghene, and a team in need of cornerback depth could be interested. — Nicki Jhabvala |
Laremy Tunsil : Back at practice
Tunsil (hamstring) was a limited participant at practice Thursday. Tunsil was able to return to the practice field Thursday after opening the week as a non-participant due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 8. The offensive lineman will have one more chance to log a full session before the team squares off with the Seahawks on Sunday Night Football.
Riggo’s Rag
Jordan Magee is still looking to cement his long-term status with the Commanders
Adam Peters signed two top-flight linebackers. Frankie Luvu, a rising star, was inked to a three-year deal. Future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner was brought in on a one-year contract. What better mentor could a young player have?
If things went according to plan, Magee would serve a one-year apprenticeship under Wagner, and then slide in next to Luvu in 2025.
This plan failed on two fronts. Magee tore his meniscus in his very first preseason game and was out for half the season. When he did return, he was mostly confined to special teams.
The reason may have had nothing to do with Magee’s readiness. Wagner and Luvu were playing at such a high level that both were selected as second-team All Pros. The Commanders were in the midst of an improbable playoff run. There was no time to take baby steps with a rookie. Out of more than 1,000 defensive snaps in 2024, the starting tandem missed a combined 35.
Magee played just 15 defensive snaps in 2024. Almost all of them came in the exciting Week 16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. A minor injury limited him for the rest of the campaign.
This year, he has already taken on a bigger role. Through eight games, Magee has played more than 100 defensive snaps and made 15 tackles. He has registered back-to-back games with four tackles each — his best total in the NFL.
Podcasts & videos
What NFL Play Calls Sound Like in the HUDDLE + Seattle Seahawks | Film Breakdown | Commanders
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Bleeding Green Nation
NFL Trade Rumors: “Howie Roseman and the Eagles are super hot after Myles Garrett”
NFL insider Charles Robinson recently had the following to say during an appearance on ESPN Nashville’s 102.5 The Game (via @JackMcCurry08):
“Rumor going around … and I have not heard it out of the Eagles, but I’ve heard it from a couple of other super high-ranking people in other teams that are clearly on the phones. That Howie Roseman and the Eagles are super hot after Myles Garrett. **That Howie would give up, like, three first-round picks for him.**”
“Which, you know, if it’s coming from the Eagles, those are three late firsts. So, it’s even arguable … when you get through the draft process, how many first-round grades do you really have? Maybe you have between 14 and 18 in a typical year. And that means if you’re drafting in the late 20s, early 30s, you’re not even getting a player that’s really considered on your board, unless you’re lucky, you’re not getting a player that maybe you have a first-round grade on.”
“But, yeah, so that’s kinda like this rumor that’s out there. Like, hey, Howie would really love a shot at [Garrett]. But, again, I was told by the Browns they’re not interested in moving him.”
The Eagles were previously rumored to be interested in Garrett earlier this offseason. But then any possibility of that dream ended when Garrett went back on his trade request and instead signed a four-year, $160 million contract with the Browns.
Though the money must be really nice, it seems like the 29-year-old may have some regrets staying in Cleveland. The Browns are 2-6 after losing a game despite the fact that Garrett himself notched FIVE sacks. The four-time first-team All-Pro edge rusher looked to be very upset on the sidelines during the game and then in the locker room afterwards.
As Robinson noted, the Browns have reportedly maintained that they are not trading Garrett. And some will point to his contract being an immovable obstacle. But the latter is not necessarily the case, as recently outlined by ESPN’s Dan Graziano:
Thing is, I dug into the contract a bit this week, and I don’t think it’s out of the question that the Browns could trade Garrett -- even this week -- if he really wanted out. The extension added $7 million to his 2025 compensation and $6 million to his 2026 compensation. It also guaranteed him about $30.5 million for 2027. The signing bonus on the new deal was around $21 million, which isn’t super-onerous for a contract of that size. If the Browns traded him right now, his 2025 cap number would stay about the same, and they’d incur about $41 million in dead money for 2026 -- roughly $17.5 million more than his current 2026 cap charge.
That’s a lot of dead money, but it’s not even close to the record.“
Big Blue View
Giants’ QB Jaxson Dart is NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.
October has been nothing short of a rollercoaster for the Giants, but the play of Dart has been the highlight of 2025 for Big Blue.
The Giants’ decision to trade up to 25th for Dart was initially viewed with skepticism, but their faith has been rewarded through his first five games. He has easily been the best rookie quarterback since taking over as the Giants starter, leading rookies in passing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and passing touchdowns. In fact, Dart has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since Week 4, and is eighth among qualifying passers in DAKOTA rankings — which blends EPA and completion percentage over expected.
The Giants’ offense as a whole is depleted, but Dart’s play gives them a chance to win every week and Dart has far exceeded expectations and has proven to be immediately NFL-ready.
dallascowboys.com
Updates: Beebe full participant on Thursday
Cowboys C Cooper Beebe (ankle) was a full participant in Dallas’ Thursday practice.
Beebe was close to returning to the lineup last week, and is now still on track to make his return to the lineup for the Cowboys on Monday night against the Cardinals, putting Dallas’ starting five offensive linemen on the field for the first time since Week 2.
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee) was limited as he enters the second week of his three-week return to practice window, and exited practice during the media’s viewing period with team training staff. Overshown later returned to practice and there’s no concern about any long-term additional injury issues.
From the rrest of the injury report, safeties Donovan Wilson and Alijah Clark did not practice, S Juanyeh Thomas was limited, DT Perrion Winfrey was limited in his second practice back from IR, and LB Jack Sanborn (groin) did not practice.
A to Z Sports
Dallas Cowboys fans hoped fifth-round rookie running back Jaydon Blue could exceed the expectations of being a Day 3 pick and rise as a significant weapon on offense early in his career.
So far, he hasn’t. Heading into Week 9, Blue hasn’t even won the backup job behind Javonte Williams. Not even veteran Miles Sanders landing on season-ending Injured Reserve has translated into him being the unquestioned RB2 in Dallas
According to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Blue still needs to show more consistency in games. Prior to Sanders’ injury, Blue was a healthy scratch for the first four weeks of the season due to inconsistency. In Dallas’ Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos, Blue rushed the ball a season-high eight times and showed more of the same. He averaged 3.6 yards per gain and had one fumble.
Upcoming opponent
Field Gulls
Jaxon Smith-Njigba wins NFC Offensive Player of the Month
The NFL Leader in receiving yards earns his first award of the 2025 season
The NFC Offensive Player of the Month was given to third-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This cannot be too much of a surprise given how dominant Smith-Njigba has been recently. In the three October games the Seahawks played, Smith-Njigba hauled in 24 catches for 417 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Smith-Njigba had at least eight catches, 100 receiving yards, and a touchdown in each of those games.
This heater that Smith-Njigba has been putting on this past month is only half of what his already dominant 2025 season has been. On the year, Smith-Njigba has 50 catches for 819 yards and 4 touchdowns. This would put him on pace for 121 receptions for 1,989 yards, and 10 touchdowns. If Smith-Njigba kept this pace, he would beat out Calvin Johnson for the most receiving yards in a single season in NFL History (1,964 yards in 2012).
NFL league links
The Athletic (paywall)
How NFL uses ‘expedited review’ to change officiating decisions during games
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice took the direct snap and raced up the middle, where he collided with Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin and extended horizontally to the ground as he eyed the end zone. His left elbow hit the ground first, as he stretched his other arm holding the football over his head toward the goal line.
The play was ruled a touchdown, and Rice immediately found a camera to show off his shiny grill as the crowd roared and fireworks boomed atop Arrowhead Stadium.
But moments later, officials conferred on the field and referee Brad Allen announced, “After reviewing of the play, via expedited review, the runner was down short of the goal line.”
The Chiefs reloaded the fireworks and sent in Kareem Hunt to collect the final yard on the ensuing second-and-goal. Touchdown — officially.
Expedited reviews, or replay assists, have been a part of the NFL since 2021 and have helped shed nearly a full minute off the average time of reviews. In 2022, the average review lasted 2 minutes, 19 seconds. Through the first seven weeks of this season, the average review was a minute and 25 seconds.
It starts at Art McNally GameDay Central (AMGC), the NFL’s command center for replay reviews that opened in 2014 and is located at the league’s Manhattan headquarters.
During the 1 p.m. ET games — there are up to nine each Sunday — AMGC is packed with around 40 people, all with specific jobs. AMGC has its own technicians and Sony has Hawk-Eye staffers all on stand-by if there are issues.
AMGC automatically reviews all scoring plays, turnovers and any plays with clock issues. It also handles all coaches’ challenges. If there’s evidence to support overturning the play, they’ll show the on-field referee certain angles to explain their reasoning for overturning the call. Then the referee will announce the changed ruling.
Once a review is initiated, all reviewable aspects of the play are examined.
AMGC assists most frequently during prime-time games because it has more eyes on the game and more cameras at the stadium, which means more angles available for review.
In the 1 p.m. window, AMGC has the fewest assists because there are typically fewer camera angles and more games to monitor.
According to Butterworth, the average game is now 3 hours and 3 minutes.
Also new this season: Coaches in the booth are allowed to have the same view of plays that the replay official at the stadium has. Whatever angle of a play the replay official is looking at, the coaches can also see it. Previously, coaches could only use the broadcast view available to the general public.
“We’re seeing a (higher) success rate (on challenges), because they are seeing what’s in the replay working box,” Butterworth said.
Through seven weeks this season, coaches were winning 60 percent of their challenges, compared to 39.6 percent at the same point last season.
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