The Washington Commanders have dealt with some terrible injury luck throughout the season. Losing established figures for prolonged periods has become a weekly occurrence for head coach Dan Quinn, which isn't an excuse, but it's not exactly helped their cause.
There are still seven games left to navigate. Everyone must roll up their sleeves and make the best out of a bad situation. It's not what anyone anticipated, but the Commanders have to keep plowing forward amid the ongoing turmoil.
But amid all the doom and gloom, a positive emerged. And it has the scope to change everything as Quinn takes over defensive play-calling responsibilities from Joe Whitt Jr.
Commanders activated Will Harris' return window after lengthy absence
The Commanders confirmed that they have activated Will Harris' 21-day return window. It's unlikely he will feature against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11, but getting the veteran safety back into the fold after Washington's bye week seems like a realistic objective now. That is somewhat surprising, especially considering most fans thought the free-agent signing might be done for the season.
Harris was the man hand-picked by general manager Adam Peters to fill the void left by Jeremy Chinn, who walked in free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders. He was solid if not spectacular, but his momentum came to a halt with a fractured fibula that placed him on injured reserve after just three games.
The 2019 third-round pick has been sorely missed. Quan Martin's flaws are being exposed. Jeremy Reaves is all effort, but he's not a starting-caliber performer. Darnell Savage Jr. came in late and is inconsistent. Tyler Owens and Percy Butler remain on the fringes, which is a damning indictment of their progress.
Obviously, Harris' return won't solve every problem. The Commanders don't have any consistent pass-rushing options to speak of. Their run defense is abysmal, and the cornerback unit is missing Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos due to long-term complications. At the same time, every little helps.
Harris's veteran leadership and ability to assist at the second level will be an asset. The former Boston College standout is an exceptional communicator who makes his tackles count. He's versatile, boasting proven credentials in coverage, closer to the line of scrimmage, or even in support on the backend. That will be invaluable to Quinn as he looks to turn Washington's defense around.
This remains a step-by-step process, but the Commanders' move shows that Harris is on the right track. Hopefully, there will be no setbacks, and the defensive back can pick up where he left off.