Commanders Secondary Has Another Test to Face vs Seattle Seahawks
· Yahoo Sports
For the second consecutive week, the Washington Commanders' secondary will have a big problem on their hand.
After watching wide receiver CeeDee Lamb explode for 153 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches while quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns while completing all but five of his 31 attempts, the Commanders now have to prepare for a Seahawks offense that may have uncertainty at quarterback, but not at receiver.
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Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba already proved himself among the NFL's best after being named Offensive Player of the Year in his third season that was capped off with a Super Bowl. Yet the two-time All Pro selection has picked up where he left off after starting the season by recording at least eight catches, 122 receiving yards and one touchdown on 11 targets in each of his first two games. Given the Seahawks' own questions at quarterback, it's an impressive feat as Smith-Njigba enters week three leading the league with 277 receiving yards, is tied with Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown with a league-high four touchdowns while his 17 receptions are ranked with Cardinals tight end Trey McBridge for third-most.
It's easy to see why defensive coordinator Daronte Jones admitted the former Buckeye is "special," but for a Commanders' defense that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw a league-leading seven passing touchdowns, complete 71.4% of pass attempts while registering an NFL-worst 137 passer rating through two weeks, it marks the latest challenge for Washington.
Third year cornerback Mike Sainristil has struggled in each of the first two games with a question whether veteran Rasul Douglas primarily draws the assignment against Smith-Njigba, though the secondary will also have to overcome another absence with Nick Cross sidelined. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the starting strong safety was hospitalized with an internal injury suffered during the week two loss, leading him to stay in Dallas following the game before being discharged and flying back to DC on Monday.
With Tyler Owens potentially stepping up to fill the void with Cross sidelined, there's still questions for the secondary to address after defensive coordinator Daronte Jones pointed to the "layers within" the defense that remain an area of improvement.
"The call goes in, guys get the call, and then within that it's, 'okay what communication do we make amongst each other?' So it's not really so much, 'hey, what's the call?' It's not the overall call communication. It's the layers within the call," Jones said.
Whether Sam Darnold ultimately returns for the week three matchup remains to be seen after the quarterback admitted that he's "really striving" to suit up on Sunday after returning to practice on Wednesday.
Kickoff is set for 1 PM between Washington and Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 27, marking the 2026 home opener as the Commanders to avoid an 0-3 start.