There have been countless reasons for the Washington Commanders' purtid fortunes this season. The plethora of injuries to key personnel is not an excuse, but the magnitude of these issues cannot be dismissed by any stretch of the imagination.
Some have been more high-profile than others. Superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin would be at the top of that list. Several others are either on injured reserve or already done for the year. It exposed the cracks in Washington's roster, and those further down the pecking order couldn't pick up the slack effectively.
Slowly but surely, players are returning. The bye week gave everyone a prolonged chance to rest, rehab, and refocus. And head coach Dan Quinn was particularly bullish about one veteran player who's been missed more than anyone initially anticipated.
Commanders should have Will Harris back in Week 13 against the Broncos
Quinn revealed that things are trending positively for Will Harris after an extended spell on the sidelines. The safety returned to practice in Madrid, and with some extra time to recover, it seems as if the free-agent signing will be back in the mix this weekend against the Denver Broncos.
"He was chomping at the bit even before we started. He worked really hard to get himself back to it, and then it was really about the movements, the conditioning into those things. And so had the week, out in Spain as well, full on practice to go and then more conditioning, more movements this past week and then, so yeah, we're very optimistic heading into this week for him and all that he's done to get himself ready to go."
Dan Quinn via Commanders.com
Harris's absence has been an underrated factor behind the secondary's complete collapse this season. His tone-setting demeanor, ability to be around the football, and proven experience were expected to fill the void left by Jeremy Chinn, so getting hurt versus the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 was a body blow.
Now, he's back. And the question turns to who'll make way for Harris.
Quan Martin's breakout campaign has turned into a disaster. Jeremy Reaves and Darnell Savage Jr. are also logging prominent reps, so there will be an odd man out if Harris is healthy enough to become a focal point immediately.
It's another fascinating dynamic for fans to watch versus a formidable Denver outfit that looks primed for another deep playoff run. Whether it's enough to turn their fortunes around entirely is debatable, but the added stability and communication Harris brings will only help their chances.