The Washington Commanders enter their Week Four contest with the Atlanta Falcons with a litany of injuries at key positions. Quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss his second consecutive game due to a sprained left knee. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin will also miss the Falcons’ game due to a quad injury. Rookie running back Bill Croskey-Merritt is also listed as questionable with a knee injury. Wide receiver Noah Brown will miss his second consecutive game due to an injured groin. Facing the Atlanta Falcons’ second ranked defense is tough enough with all of Washington’s offensive starters available. The possibility of Croskey-Merritt missing this game further weakens the Commanders’ offense.
Washington will once again rely on reserve quarterback Marcus Mariota to guide the offense in Daniels’ absence. Mariota led the Commanders to a 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week Three. Mariota played for the Raiders in 2020 and 2021. Washington hopes that history repeats itself and Mariota can lead the Commanders to victory over the Falcons, whom Mariota played for in 2022. While Mariota’s mobility isn’t as dynamic as Daniels, the Commanders don’t lose too much in regards to Mariota’s ability to lead the offense.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel has proven to be a valuable addition due to his contributions in the running game and the return game in addition to his pass receiving prowess. The absence of McLaurin and Brown means that wide receivers Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore, and rookie Jaylin Lane will have expanded roles to help Samuel in the passing game. Croskey-Merritt’s potential absence could deal a major blow to Washington’s offensive backfield. Running back Chris Rodriguez would most likely be the featured back, with running back Jeremy McNichols in reserve. The Commanders’ offense is second in the NFL in rushing, averaging 157.3 yards per game. Washington would be hard pressed to maintain a solid running game if Daniels and Croskey-Merritt were to miss significant time.
But this is the NFL, where opportunities arise in the wake of the absence of others. If Washington’s reserves can provide offensive efficiency, they could be on their way to victory over the Falcons.