Dan Quinn has taken over defensive play-calling responsibilities from Joe Whitt Jr. in a final attempt to salvage something from the Washington Commanders' season. That might be a lost cause already, but the head coach couldn't sit idly by and let things carry on as they were.
And Quinn wasted no time sending a loud message with a quiet move that nobody saw coming.
It's no secret that the Commanders are desperately short of legitimate pass-rushing options. They were threadbare even before the campaign, but long-term injuries to Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatrich Wise Jr. changed the landscape considerably.
Commanders quiet roster move could be the spark that reignites Frankie Luvu
The Commanders have tried everything to no avail. Jacob Martin and Von Miller are rotational pieces being asked to step into starting roles. Preston Smith has lost a step and is struggling to make the desired impression. Frankie Luvu is better suited to being an off-ball linebacker, but he's being forced to log prominent reps on the edge amid Washington's injury crisis.
Quinn is an experienced defensive mind. He could see what's unfolding in front of his face, and now he gets the chance to do something about it. And a quiet roster move from the Commanders may hint at something bigger afoot.
According to the player's agency, the Commanders have signed defensive end DeMarcus Walker to the practice squad before their trip to Spain for an international game against the Miami Dolphins. The veteran edge rusher has 26.5 career sacks and played 69 percent of defensive snaps with the Chicago Bears last season. That wasn't enough to get another opportunity, and he's been looking for another chance ever since.
Just how much Walker will be able to contribute remains to be seen. The Commanders must have been suitably impressed by his conditioning, but there is just no telling for sure. If he can pick things up quickly, and he did make the trip to Madrid ahead of a possible Week 11 elevation, Quinn will be free to let Luvu do what he does best at his more natural position.
Luvu is explosive, instinctive, and physical. He reacts well to what's going on in front of him and boasts the closing speed to arrive violently at the contact point. That's been lost this season amid an altered role, but signing Walker might give Quinn the freedom to shift the Washington State product back to where he's most impactful.
That's a lot to ask of someone who hasn't played a snap this season. But in all honesty, the Commanders don't have much to lose. And if it helps Luvu return to his old self, it'll be worth its weight in gold.