The Washington Commanders enter Sunday’s NFC East showdown against the Dallas Cowboys facing an early season must win situation. With both top receivers sidelined, quarterback Jayden Daniels will again be asked to carry the offense on his back. Washington sits at 3-3 and is looking to rebound after a deflating defensive performance last week.
Inactives
The Commanders have declared the following players inactive for Week 7:
No. 1 WR Deebo Samuel Sr.
No. 14 QB Josh Johnson (Emergency QB)
No. 17 WR Terry McLaurin
No. 51 LB Ale Kaho
No. 56 LB Kain Medrano
No. 74 G Brandon Coleman
No. 77 T George Fant
Losing Samuel and McLaurin leaves Washington without its two primary downfield weapons. Those absences will test Daniels’ poise and playmaking against a Dallas defense that remains aggressive despite injuries of its own.
Keys to a Washington Win
1. Jayden Daniels must carry the load.
With his top targets unavailable, Daniels’ dual-threat ability becomes the centerpiece of Washington’s offense. Expect designed runs, read-options, and off-script plays as he looks to extend drives and create chunk gains. His ability to protect the football and control tempo will be critical.
2. Sam Cosmi’s return provides stability.
Cosmi is active for the first time since suffering a knee injury in January. His presence at guard should immediately strengthen protection and help the run game find rhythm. The Commanders will monitor his workload but his return is a significant boost for a line that’s struggled with consistency.
3. The defense must answer.
After surrendering big plays a week ago, Washington’s defense needs a spark. Generating pressure on Dak Prescott and forcing turnovers could swing momentum. On offense, veteran Zach Ertz — cleared from a shoulder injury — figures to be a key security blanket for Daniels, but Washington’s hopes hinge on defensive improvement.
Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is set for 4:25 p.m. ET as the Commanders aim for a much-needed divisional win to stay in the NFC East race.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Commanders Insider for SportsJourney.com. As a graduate of George Mason University, Forrest has spent the last eight years sharing his love for sports with listeners and viewers in the DC area and around the world. He hosts the “After Further Review Podcast” and has held numerous on-air and writing roles covering the DC area sports, Division 1 Basketball, and the NFL. His work has been featured on outlets like NBC Sports Washington, Fansided.com, Heavy.com and The Fourth Estate.
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