Eagles blog headline: “Eagles are going to ’rest some starters’ with the team believing they can…beat the Commanders anyway”

1 week ago 2

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3 Commanders storylines for Week 18

Moves on the offensive line

Speaking of injuries, several players on the offensive line are dealing with issues that either could or will keep them out of Sunday’s game. Tyler Biadasz, who left last week’s game, suffered ankle and knee injuries. Biadasz will not require surgery at this time, Quinn said, but the veteran center will likely be unavailable.

Things are murkier with left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who is dealing with an oblique injury. Tunsil can move straight ahead, but turning and torquing is difficult for him, so much so that Quinn cast doubt on him playing this weekend if his condition remains the same. The Commanders will have more answers on Tunsil’s health later in the week.

Though not ideal, the Commanders do have an answer for how to replace Biadasz and Tunsil. Brandon Coleman has stepped up in Tunsil’s absence and played well in the role he had last season. As for Biadasz, the Commanders put in former starting guard Nick Allegretti, who also has experience playing center.

The offensive line has been a strength for the Commanders all season, thanks to the investments they made in the offseason to bolster the position. Quinn has confidence that if they need to pull from the group’s depth that the offense will be able to function against a talented Eagles defense.

A to Z Sports

The Commanders’ selections in the 2026 NFL Draft are almost finalized, and they can’t pick any later than 7th overall

The…scenario for the highest possible draft pick, which is highly unlikely, is that the Commanders lose, and the Browns, New York Giants, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals all win. The Commanders would move up a spot for every win by any of those teams, and the absolute ceiling is the No. 2 overall pick.

The likeliest outcome for the Commanders is finishing with the No. 6 or No. 7 pick, and they will have numerous decisions to make.

the Commanders only have six picks in the draft, and trading back would be ideal if they’re offered a large enough haul, but that might not be possible.

There are only a few quarterbacks worth taking in the first round, and you probably need a top-five pick for one of them.

Heavy.com

Tyler Biadasz : Unlikely to play Week 18

Biadasz (ankle/knee) is unlikely to be available for the Commanders’ regular-season finale against the Eagles on Sunday, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports. Biadasz suffered ankle and knee injuries during the Commanders’ 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Christmas Day. The injuries aren’t severe enough to require surgery, but it puts the sixth-year pro on the doubtful side of playing Week 18. Nick Allegretti would likely draw the start at center against Philadelphia if Biadasz is inactive.

The Athletic (paywall)

Forget a recalibration: The Commanders need to get back to basics

Multiple players who ended the 2024 season on the rise and as seemingly core pieces of the team’s future have taken steps back in 2025.

[Quan] Martin has given up 453 receiving yards when targeted in coverage this season, the fourth-most among qualified safeties and almost twice as many as he gave up last year (253) in roughly the same number of coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Luvu’s three forced fumbles this season are tied for the third-most among qualified linebackers, per PFF, and his role changed during the season to help Washington’s depleted pass rush. But his missed tackle rate of 20.2 percent leads all qualifying linebackers, and the NFL has fined him nearly $170,000 for illegal hip-drop tackles.

And second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil leads the Commanders with four interceptions, but he’s also allowed 10 touchdowns in coverage, the most of any cornerback in the NFL.

Washington’s swing from a 4-13 team in 2023 to a 12-5 contender in ‘24 and back to being a 4-12 club this season is among the more volatile three-year stretches for any NFL team in recent years. The last team to improve by eight wins in one season, then fall by at least eight losses the following season was the Carolina Panthers, from 2014-16.

Such a slide isn’t caused by a single player or even a few players. There are multiple layers that Quinn and general manager Adam Peters will have to peel back. For a regime that began its rebuild/recalibration (just pick an “r” word) by preaching play style, rediscovering the fundamentals of it is step one.

Heavy.com

Commanders tipped to pursue Al Harris as new DC

Dan Quinn has done what he could after replacing Joe Whitt Jr. as play-caller, but the head coach knows the Washington Commanders need a full-time defensive coordinator, so it’s handy Quinn already knows a terrific candidate, one the Commanders are tipped to have “significant interest” in hiring as Whitt’s permanent replacement.

It’s Chicago Bears secondary boss Al Harris, according to Commanders film analyst and Substack writer Mark Bullock. Formerly of The Athletic and The Washington Post, Bullock expects “Quinn to show significant interest in making Al Harris his new defensive coordinator this offseason.”

Bullock was responding to an excerpt from an article for CBS Sports by Jonathan Jones. He pointed out how “Harris, Chicago’s team’s defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator, has overseen a unit responsible for a league-leading 21 interceptions. A coach the past 13 years, Harris was previously with the Cowboys. In his final four years in Dallas, the Cowboys had the most interceptions in the league with 72 between 2021 to 2024. He had Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland as first-team All Pros. Today, the Cowboys have the second-fewest interceptions in the league this season.”

That’s an enviable track record of taking the ball away, something the Commanders haven’t done with any kind of earnest on Quinn’s watch. Fortunately, he knows all about Harris, who was on staff when Quinn called defenses for the Cowboys.

Riggo’s Rag

Brian Mitchell questions whether Commanders should pursue Trevon Diggs

This was a topic discussed by ex-Washington star Brian Mitchell on 106.7 The Fan. He didn’t think just factoring in the previous relationship factor was enough. The Commanders have to be convinced that Diggs can assist before making this move a reality.

“They have to be careful just jumping at familiarity. They need to find guys that are playing their best ball.”Brian Mitchell

Mitchell is right. Diggs played his best football under Quinn in Dallas. A lot has changed since then, and even though the former Alabama standout is firmly in his prime years, there is just no telling whether this would be a good fit when push comes to shove.

Quinn will probably be looking for a new defensive coordinator at season’s end. The new hire will have his own ideas about personnel and scheme fit. Diggs may not be what he’s looking for, although he’d have some strong supporters in the building.

Podcasts & videos

Bill Croskey-Merritt & The Young Guns + Love Hurts? | Podcast | Washington Commanders | NFL

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Blogging the Boys

Report: Trevon Diggs, Brian Schottenheimer had travel disagreement after Christmas win

Jordan Schulz reported that following the Cowboys win at Washington on Christmas that Diggs asked head coach Brian Schottenheimer if he could stay in the D.C. area, where he is from, and not fly back with the team. According to Schultz, Diggs expressed that the first thing he would be doing upon returning with the team would be to fly back to where they left so staying made sense in his mind.

It should also be noted as far as matters of interest are concerned that following his release from the Cowboys, Diggs changed representation to David Mulugheta.

This is of note because David Mulugheta is the agent who represented Micah Parsons during his negotiations with the Cowboys. He is the agent, in case you forgot, who Jerry Jones claimed last offseason to not know the name of. Diggs and Parsons were famously very close so this is all pretty logical, and yes, Mulugheta’s agency also represents George Pickens so you can file this away for a rainy day to come.

Pro Football Talk

Jerry Jones plans to speak directly with George Pickens about his next contract

Appearing Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Jones made it clear that he’ll be talking directly to receiver George Pickens, who is headed for free agency in March.

Asked whether Jones will negotiate directly with Pickens or with his agent, David Mulugheta, Jones said this (via the team’s official website): “I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes. Probably both, but I certainly expect to be speaking with George.”

Speaking directly with linebacker Micah Parsons last April sparked the problem that morphed into an August divorce. Jones believed Parsons had agreed to a verbal agreement. Parsons denied it, and he made it clear that Jones should speak to Mulugheta. Jones held firm to the idea that a deal was done. The situation escalated, with Parsons citing a back injury to remain out of practice and the Cowboys deciding not long before the start of the season to end the charade, with a trade.

And, yes, Parsons was also represented by Mulugheta. Along the way, Jones openly disrespected Mulugheta, with Jones suggesting he doesn’t even know who Mulugheta is.

Jones has surely learned about Mulugheta by now. Jones hasn’t learned that the Collective Bargaining Agreement delegates the NFL Players Association’s role as the exclusive representative of all players to certified agents who represent them individually. Jones has insisted, incorrectly, that it’s not a violation to deal directly with a player who has an NFLPA-certified agent. More accurately, Jones doesn’t care about the five-figure fine that the CBA imposes if/when the NFLPA decides to push it. (For the first violation, there’s no punishment at all.)

Big Blue View

NY Giants head-coaching search: Insiders agree job is ‘highly coveted’

Analysts agree that coaches, executives would be “excited” by the chance to continue building the Giants.

Schoen expressed confidence during his bye week press conference that the Giants’ job would generate plenty of interest.

“The calls we’ve gotten, I think we’re going to be able to fill the job,” he said.

We don’t know for certain that Schoen will still be the general manager whenever the Giants hire a head coach. Recent reporting, though, makes it look like that will be the case.

The Daily News also reported that the expectation around the league is that Schoen is going to return.

That possibility has generally been framed as one that could be a negative for some candidates. It is interesting, though, to look at Mays’ perspective that it may actually attract some candidates because of the power dynamic. A strong coach/subservient GM is not the Giants’ normal power dynamic, but if an established coach like Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, or Mike McCarthy wanted such a structure you wonder if the Giants would consider it.

Bleeding Green Nation

NFL insider believes Eagles are going to “rest some starters” with the team believing they can still beat the Commanders anyway

First, there’s this from NFL insider Mike Garafolo (bold emphasis mine):

“Now, you could [beat Washington] potentially, with some starters resting. I think you saw DeVonta Smith there [in the B-roll footage] just now, he’s on the verge of 1,000 yards, so maybe you get him that accolade. A.J. Brown could chill out. Even Jalen Hurts could rest because of the legend of Tanner McKee. So, I do believe the Eagles are going to rest some starters here while still thinking that they can come out with a victory AND potentially that No. 2 seed if they get the result that they want from the Chicago-Detroit game.”

I do think it’s possible that the Eagles could rest their starters against Washington and still win. It’s looking like the Commanders will be down to third-string quarterback Josh Johnson once again.

[For the Eagles to get the No. 2 seed, they’d have to win at home vs. Washington (4-12) on Jan. 4 − and the Bears (11-5) would have to lose their final game vs. Detroit (8-8).]

It’s also possible the Eagles don’t get the help they need from the Lions even if they did play their starters.

But if the Eagles don’t play their starters and lose to the Commanders (who might be extra motivated to win after how their Week 16 loss to Philly ended PLUS the bulletin board material of the Eagles thinking their backups can beat the Commanders’ starters) … and the Bears lose … I think that’ll be a tough pill to swallow knowing you could’ve tried to get the No. 2 seed but didn’t due to a lack of trying. Of course, that would be a pretty fitting outcome given the hubris/lack of aggression we’ve seen from Nick Sirianni all too often this season.

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15 modern-era players announced as finalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026

The Modern-Era Players, along with their positions, years and teams are:

Willie Anderson, Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Drew Brees, Quarterback – 2001-05 San Diego Chargers, 2006-2020 New Orleans Saints
Jahri Evans, Guard – 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers
Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver – 2004-2020 Arizona Cardinals
Frank Gore, Running Back – 2005-2014 San Francisco 49ers, 2015-17 Indianapolis Colts, 2018 Miami Dolphins, 2019 Buffalo Bills, 2020 New York Jets
Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Luke Kuechly, Linebacker – 2012-19 Carolina Panthers
Eli Manning, Quarterback – 2004-2019 New York Giants
Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End – 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
Adam Vinatieri, Kicker – 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts
Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle –2003-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014 Seattle Seahawks, 2015 New Orleans Saints
Jason Witten, Tight End – 2003-2017, 2019 Dallas Cowboys, 2020 Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Marshal Yanda, Guard/Tackle – 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

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Front Office Sports

Black Monday Nears: Several NFL Coaches Face Uncertainty

One of the toughest days of the year for NFL head coaches is quickly approaching, and multiple teams are expected to make changes.

As the league approaches the last weekend of the regular season, multiple teams are already bracing for large-scale transitions. Among the developing situations:

Cardinals: Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon said, “I feel good,” when asked this week about his job status. The team, however, is 3–13 as it finishes its fourth straight losing season, and it has reached the playoffs just once in the last decade. “No one’s happy. I’m not happy. Players aren’t happy,” Gannon said. “Through adversity, you’ve got to change. So, I’ve got to change, and we’ve got to change some things, but we’ll get to that.”

Raiders: Las Vegas head coach Pete Carroll is both a Super Bowl champion and a two-time national champion in college football. This season, though, he hasn’t won a game since Oct. 12 as the Raiders have sunk to a 2–14 record and are in line for the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Similar to Gannon, Carroll said he is confident that he will be able to retain his job. “From all the guys I’ve talked to, I do feel like I have [ownership’s] support,” Carroll said. “What does that mean? I don’t know, but our conversations have been really good.”

Jets: After a celebrated run as the Lions’ defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn’s tenure as the Jets’ head coach has been far worse. The team has sunk to a 3–13 record and has been outscored 153–46 in the last four games. Amid an ugly history of Jets coaches, only Al Groh in 2000 was a one-and-done in the last 45 years. Regardless of what happens with Glenn, a direct conversation with owner Woody Johnson is forthcoming. “I think Woody knows just as well as anybody, I’m not going to b.s. him about anything at all,” Glenn said. “I think that’s a good thing about our relationship, that we’re going to be straightforward with each other.”

Chiefs: Andy Reid, the NFL’s highest-paid head coach at $20 million and a three-time Super Bowl winner in Kansas City, is set to return in 2026 after a surprising and highly disappointing campaign that includes an end to a decade-long playoff run. “I think I’m coming back, right?” the 67-year-old Reid said. “If they’ll have me back, I’ll come back. You never know in this business. That’s a tough one, but I plan on it, yeah.”

Browns: Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski is a two-time NFL coach of the year, but the team is just 7–26 in the last two years, even after Sunday’s upset of the Steelers has restarted speculation regarding his status. “As you can imagine, my sole focus is on [the upcoming] game versus Cincinnati, but I would also tell you I’m privileged to have this job.”

Falcons: Atlanta had a big win over the Rams on Monday Night Football, but the team has not posted a winning season or reached the playoffs since 2017. Owner Arthur Blank has brought in outside consulting firm Sportsology to review the team’s football operations, an assessment that will include GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris.

Steelers and Ravens: The two teams will play on Sunday Night Football for the AFC North division title. A report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier this week suggested the losing coach in that game, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin or Baltimore’s John Harbaugh, could leave his post, with a move to broadcasting possible. Tomlin has already been under rising scrutiny, despite never posting a losing record in his 19 seasons with the Steelers.