The Washington Commanders have a 2-3 record after embarrassingly dropping its third straight game to the hapless Chicago Bears last Thursday. Commanders head coach Ron Rivera thwarted the echoes from fans for him to make a change to his coaching staff notably with defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. However, Rivera is putting the onus on his players.

As the players convene for practices, it was noticeable that a new mantra on the door outside of the team’s locker room that read “DO YOUR JOB”

“Because I think, looking at the tape, watching the game, our previous five games, looking at some of the stuff that I read, the numbers, obviously to me, there’s a sense and a feel that we’re not doing the things that we need to do,” Rivera said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

The sentiment could be directed toward the struggling defense or the offensive line. Washington’s defense has taken several steps back compared to a year ago. In 2022, the Commanders’ defense ranked third in yards allowed per game, fourth in passing yards allowed per game, first in third down conversions percentage, and seventh in scoring defense.

This season, the defense is nowhere near as impressive. The Commanders are 25th in yards allowed per game, 25th against the run, and 21st against the pass, and the 32.0 points allowed per game is only better than the historically bad Denver Broncos defense.

Meanwhile, no one should absolve the offense from the blame. While there have been flashes, Sam Howell is the most-sacked quarterback in the league. The run game has been inconsistent. Star players like wide receiver Terry McLaurin aren’t getting the football. And the receivers group is struggling with getting separation.

Still, while there is enough blame to go around the players, fans and observers would say Rivera needs to heed his own advice from the sign.

With the Commanders trailing 27-3 at halftime to the previously winless Bears, Rivera admitted to the Thursday Night Football broadcast he didn’t speak to the team in between halves.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen confirmed during his weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan’s The Sports Junkies that Del Rio and defensive leaders Chase Young and Jeremy Reaves, who got injured in the first quarter of the game, spoke to the team instead.

Ron Rivera going the old Bill Belichick route

So now, Rivera wants to talk to the team through a sign? He did so using Bill Belichick’s old mantra that the New England Patriots coach floated around during Tom Brady’s heydays.

News of the sign opened a floodgate of criticism on social media. One X user commented, “Well, they’re all small words. There is a chance [Del Rio] may read it.”

Another user said, “Besides, it worked for the Patriots, and I’ve been outta ideas since 2013.”

All that truly matters is how the players in the locker room are receptive to the sign. But, this appears to be a last-ditch effort from a head coach on the hot seat who may know the ship is sinking.

In Year 4 as Commanders head coach, Rivera understood he must win games this year after three subpar years prior. He must prove himself to the new ownership group.

The Commanders entered last week after a tough overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending NFC East and NFC champions. Washington had a favorable stretch of games ahead of them. There was a lot of optimism surrounding the team.

But all that got washed away when the Commanders were run off its home field by a Bears team that had lost 14 straight games prior by the score of 40-20.

Now, the focus is on getting on track. Sunday’s opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, look much better after their win last week over the Houston Texans. The loss to the Bears left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.

On Friday, Ron Rivera said he is considering looking into the play-calling on defense, giving some players liberties with their technique or making them play specific techniques, per Jhabvala.

Now that the mantra getting preached is a simple, “DO YOUR JOB!”

Actions speak louder than words. How well the Commanders play against the Falcons will tell how accepted the new locker room sign was within the team.

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Chaos broke out after an Antonio Gibson touchdown in the second quarter of Monday’s preseason game between the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens. Commanders center Nick Gates exacted revenge while right guard Sam Cosmi dropped a “Griddy” in celebration.

As for the play, Gibson caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Washington’s quarterback Sam Howell. After Gibson got in the end zone, Gates flew in and took a shot at Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington, sparking a scuffle that involved multiple players from both teams, including Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

Players on the field joined into the pile, but not Cosmi. Instead, the Texas product decided busting out a “Griddy” was more important. All of which occurred while Monday Night Football announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman interviewed Commanders majority owner Josh Harris.

Presumably, Gates targeting Washington was no accident. Ar’Darius Washington was the culprit that sparked one of the fights during the teams’ joint practice on Tuesday by tackling Commanders tight end Cole Turner out of bounds.

Cosmi stated this past weekend the Ravens’ 24-game preseason win streak was “stupid” and the Commanders would end it.

Gibson’s score gave the Commanders a 17-14 lead. Ultimately, the Commanders beat the Ravens 29-28, snapping the NFL’s greatest preseason win streak.

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Colin Cowherd apparently has been under a rock lately. During Tuesday’s episode of his FS1 show The Herd, Cowherd rambled a hot take that distastefully included former Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

Cowherd listed the former first-round picks that can and cannot win a Super Bowl. He named Dwayne Haskins on the list that cannot win a Super Bowl. His production team actually put Haskins’ name on a graphic. Unfortunately, neither Cowherd nor his team thought about the fact that Haskins tragically died last year.

Haskins had an up-and-down NFL career. But the insensitivity surrounding the late QB is astonishing. No one thought to say listing a deceased player, especially one who died tragically, may not be a good idea.

Production meetings can be hectic. So through all the preparation, somehow logic and empathy didn’t appear.

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Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson should have made his NFL debut six weeks ago. Unfortunately, the rookie couldn’t because he was shot twice in the knee during an attempted robbery in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28.

Robinson survived the shooting and had no major structured damage to his knee. Both of the bullets missed all major parts of his knee. Robinson rehabbed and got cleared last week to return Sunday. He finally made his pro debut against the Tennessee Titans.

The Commanders saved Robinson for last to be introduced to their home crowd at FedEx Field. Robinson came out of the tunnel to 50 Cent’s song “Many Men.”

Released in 2003, the song references 50 Cent surviving being shot nine times.

On Sunday, the song amped Robinson being introduced in his first game.

50 Cent responded to the epic moment via Twitter.

“The [expletive] ain’t stop nothing, when God has bigger plans it’s just a bump in the road. Right back in action,” 50 Cent tweeted.

Robinson finished the game with nine carries and 22 yards, as the Commanders lost 21-17. However, the fact Robinson is alive and back on the football field playing is a win.

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The Washington Commanders are running out of healthy tight ends. The position has been ravaged with injuries. On Thursday, recently-signed linebacker Nate Gerry lined up at tight end on the scout team for select plays, according to the Washington Times’ Matthew Paras.

Gerry signed with the Commanders earlier this month to add depth to their young linebacker group. However, the injuries are adding up at tight end. Thus, his services were needed there.

The Commanders have been without presumed TE1 Logan Thomas, who started training camp on the PUP list following a torn ACL last year. Backup John Bates has been out a couple of weeks with a calf injury. This year’s fifth-round draft pick Cole Turner has been out and is expected to miss “another week or two” with a hamstring injury.

Last year’s training camp sensation Sammis Reyes was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a hamstring injury of his own. Undrafted rookie Curtis Hodges was off to the side during Wednesday practice for unspecified reasons.

That leaves Washington with fellow undrafted rookie Armani Rogers, who started Saturday’s preseason loss to the Carolina Panthers, and Eli Wolf.

Not exactly what the Commanders want, especially with a new quarterback. Carson Wentz is getting acclimated in the system but without his best options at tight end. Hopefully, the team gets some of their tight ends back before the regular season. But being down five tight ends in training camp will surely have some effect.

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The Washington Commanders started its rebranding in February. Now they’re continuing the process to its entertainment team. According to trademark attorney Josh Gerben, the Commanders filed the application for the name “COMMAND FORCE” on July 20.

The trademark was filed under the purposes of “entertainment services in the form of precision dance and cheerleading squad performances at professional football games and exhibitions and at other personal appearances; providing sports and entertainment information via a global computer network.

The Commanders franchise dropped the cheerleading squad to rebrand as a dance team prior to last season following sexual harassment and misconduct allegations. Additionally, the team settled with a group of former cheerleaders over lewd videos employees recorded without the cheerleaders knowledge during a pair of photo shoots in 2008 and 2010.

Last season the revamped dance team was known as the “2021 Entertainment Team.”

Former famed NBA entertainer Petra Pope was named senior advisor to head the entertainment team. Former Washington cheerleader Jade Kelly was later named head coach of the team. 

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The Washington Commanders lost a huge supporter for their efforts of getting a new stadium in the state of Virginia. Wednesday night, Virginia state senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) made a press release that he was pulling his vote for stadium funding for the Commanders.

“I don’t have confidence in the Washington Commanders as a viable NFL franchise,” Petersen said among other things in his statement.

On Thursday he made his rounds to local radio to elaborate beyond his statement. While appearing on 106.7 the Fan’s BMitch and Finlay, Petersen made an apparent contradictory statement in bashing the future of the Commanders.

“The team has no brand, it has no identity and you’re asking the Commonwealth of Virginia to enter into a long-term financial contract,” Petersen told Brian Mitchell and JP Finlay.

But later in the interview, Petersen said it may be better to get an expansion team.

“The irony is would this be easier to do with an expansion team?” Petersen pondered. “The answer might be yes.”

Did Senator Petersen contradict himself?

Wait… He just said the Commanders have no brand or history. That sounds like an expansion team, right? The Commanders were the Washington Redskins from 1937 until 2020 when the team dropped the moniker after pressure from Native Americans, some fans and sponsors. The term “Redskins” is viewed as disparaging to Natives.

The team held the temporary name of “Washington Football Team” from 2020 until this past February. It was then, the team officially changed its moniker to Commanders. There’s a great deal of criticism following the name change.

There are fans that were upset with the name no longer being “Redskins” and fans who simply disapprove of the choice of “Commanders.”

Petersen was a long-time supporter of getting the Washington NFL franchise to move its home stadium to Virginia, where the team is headquartered. He was an original member of the “Redskins Caucus.”

Could this be more about the name change? Could it be his disapproval of Commanders owner Dan Snyder?

Petersen’s stance about Commanders’ name change or owner Dan Snyder?

Snyder has drawn the ire of many fans due to the team’s lack of success on the field. But largely, the off-field drama, including multiple investigations of sexual harrasment within the organization. The latest is as a result of allegations directly of Snyder. Fans pointed to both theories on social media.

It’s worth noting, Petersen stressed in his statement Wednesday he was a “Redskins fan” and that he is “not taking a stand against anybody.” Then he pointed out “The Washington Commanders are not the Washington Redskins.”

If a reader is taking his words for what it’s worth, then Petersen may not necessarily be directing his ire towards Snyder or any alleged wrongdoing by Snyder. It’s hard not to consider the name change playing a large factor.

Yes, branding and identity may be a concern for a team that has waning support. Yet, that may not necessarily be the true purpose of Petersen’s stance.

However, it’s clear he doesn’t view the Commanders as the Redskins. He also doesn’t think the Commanders are more viable than an expansion team.

Petersen said a lot more. And his full quotes give some context. But the highlights of comments will surely have a difference of opinion towards his motives for pulling his vote for a new Commanders stadium.

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Vitek Vanecek will make his 13th consecutive start in net for the Washington Capitals when the team faces off against the New York Rangers Saturday. Craig Anderson not Ilya Samsonov will be backing up Vanecek for Saturday’s matinee.

Samsonov instead won’t dress for the game. He is being assigned to the taxi squad while Anderson is being recalled.

Samsonov was recalled to the Capitals Friday after a two-game conditioning assignment with the Hershey Bears. Yet, Washington head coach Peter Laviolette says the 23-year goaltender is “still working on his conditioning,” according to Samantha Pell of the Washington Post.

Laviolette won’t commit to a plan for who will start in net for Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. He wants to get through Saturday’s game before making any announcements towards the Devils game.

Samsonov hasn’t played in an NHL game since Jan. 17, as he along with three other Capitals were placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Samsonov developed symptoms of the coronavirus and was not cleared to return until Feb. 8 along with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov returned to the ice on Feb. 14, but Samsonov has taken longer to return in a game with the Capitals. The wait will expand for at least one more game.

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Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith (calf) was limited in Thursday’s practice despite getting some first-team reps.

Still, Smith took a huge step towards improving his chances of playing in Sunday’s pivotal game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Washington head coach Rivera said Smith was “much more fluid,” per John Keim of ESPN.

Smith has missed the past two games since suffering a right calf strain in Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Washington’s offense struggled for the most part behind since-released Dwayne Haskins. If Smith is forced to miss a third straight game, Taylor Heinicke will start in his place.

Heinicke, who replaced Haskins in the fourth quarter last week against the Carolina Panthers, has one career start in the NFL. That came in 2018 with the Panthers while Rivera was his head coach and current Washington offensive coordinator Scott Turner was his QB coach.

Surely, a healthy Smith gives Washington the best chance to win Sunday’s must-win game. Smith is 4-1 as a starter this season. Washington is 2-8 in games without him starting this year. His presence on the field stabilizes Washington’s offense and keeps them out of far less negative plays.

Washington will clinch the NFC East division title and lock up the home-playoff game in the wild card round with a with against the Eagles. However, a loss hands the division to the winner of the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game and bounces Washington out of the playoffs.

Now focus will shift to how Smith’s calf responds Friday and if he stays on track to start against the Eagles.

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Washington Football Team placed starting free safety Deshazor Everett on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, the team announced Thursday. Everett exited last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers with a chest injury. He underwent surgery Thursday morning.

Everett appeared in 11 games this season. He was promoted to starter following the benching of Troy Apke in Week 6.

After making a name for himself for special teams, Everett had earned an extended look as a starter on defense with defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. He stabilized the free safety position starting alongside rookie Kamren Curl.

Everett had battle through an ankle injury that forced him to miss games in Week 11 and 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys. Apke started in his place then, but it appears Jeremy Reaves is expected to start in place Everett this go around. Additionally, Cole Luke will serve as the fourth safety moving forward.

Everett finishes the season with 31 tackles, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. His hard-hitting style and leadership will be surely missed. However, Reaves has flashed in limited snaps at safety over the course of the last three games.

In a corresponding move, Washington officially announced the signing of running back Lamar Miller from the Chicago Bears practice squad. He will not play in Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks as he enters the NFL’s six-day pre-entry protocol before being able to join his teammates in Washington.

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