Commanders' 1-4-1 bye puts Quinn's defense on clock

The Washington Commanders entered their bye week in Ashburn, Va., at 1-4-1 on Thursday, Oct. 22, with coach Dan Quinn using a news conference to frame the break as a reset.

For DC-area fans, the pause comes with the season still unsettled: Washington is two games out of first place in the NFC East despite six uneven games.

“This week as a bye is a chance for you to look even more closely at why we’re in this situation and like how we’re gonna do things to absolutely get our way out of it,” Quinn said. “So, for a stretch (in Monday night’s loss to the 49ers) we saw the way, and now for me, how do we sustain for four quarters of football? And that’s a must.”

The main concern is a defense that has not delivered the improvement expected after offseason additions. Washington also lost a chance at a win with a late mistake in a tie against the Giants, adding to questions about end-of-game execution.

Quinn said the team has shown enough in pieces to make the inconsistency more frustrating. “When I’ve seen it in spurts, I saw it in a half (against the 49ers),” he said. “And to me, that’s when we’re gonna be at our best.”

The Commanders hired veteran defensive coach Steve Wilks this week as an adviser. The secondary is also expected to get help from Trey Amos, whose return would address a position group that has been under pressure.

The offensive picture is also strained. Jayden Daniels is dealing with a dislocated elbow, the same injury he had last year, and top receiver Terry McLaurin will miss the rest of the season with a torn left patellar tendon.

Daniels and first-year offensive coordinator David Blough now have to produce more reliable scoring without McLaurin. Quinn said he wants “more explosive plays” and more parts of the offense that Washington can “hang our hat on day in, day out, over and over.”

Atlas360 reported on Oct. 20 that Washington lost 23-17 to San Francisco after cutting a 20-point deficit to six before the 49ers stopped two fourth-quarter drives. Daniels was sacked on the final snap, and McLaurin left in the first quarter with a left knee injury.

The division has left Washington an opening. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts and New York quarterback Jaxson Dart are out for the season, while Dallas ranks at the bottom of the league in yards allowed per play.

The next two games, against the Eagles and Rams, come before the trade deadline and should shape whether Washington pushes for the playoffs or shifts toward longer-term roster decisions. Quinn led the Commanders to the NFC title game in his first season in 2024.