If the Washington Commanders want to be taken more seriously by their remaining skeptics, they must start beating teams with postseason aspirations. That quest begins this weekend against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium.
The way Dan Quinn's men are ruthlessly disposing of lower opposition they'd have had significant trouble with last season is a sign of how far this project has come in such a short timeframe. Everyone around the league is looking at this franchise differently. Keeping it up is the next challenge, but the mindset and culture within the building are maintaining a sense of calm amid the ongoing adulation.
Washington is navigating some injury concerns heading into the contest. That puts the onus squarely on those available to step up and make a lasting contribution in a high-pressure situation on home soil. If they can do this, a 6-2 record heading into the midway point might not be too far behind.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players firmly on the hot seat entering Week 8 against the Bears.
Commanders players on the hot seat entering Week 8 vs. Bears
Zach Ertz - Commanders TE
Zach Ertz is showing everyone that he's got plenty left in the tank. Many wondered if the veteran tight end had gone past the point of no return performance-wise after how things went in 2023. His reunion with Kliff Kingsbury coupled with fully buying into the Washington Commanders' culture shift is leading to a late-career resurgence.
Ertz already has 25 receptions for 268 receiving yards and one touchdown through seven weeks. He looks fresh and reinvigorated, proving to be a chain-moving asset who can also make his presence felt in the red zone.
Being on the hot seat isn't just for those who could be threatened by demotion. It's also reserved for players the Commanders need a big performance from. That's exactly the case with Ertz this weekend, especially considering the quarterback uncertainty facing Washington heading into the clash.
Whether it's Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota manning the plate, Ertz needs to provide an assured, dependable target in pursuit of keeping things ticking over. He looks more than capable of achieving this feat looking at the way he's applied himself so far.
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
All the talk this week has centered on whether rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will participate after suffering a rib injury. Regardless of whether the No. 2 pick can participate or not, the Washington Commanders need to depend on their ground game more than ever.
The Chicago Bears are giving up 112.0 yards per game on the ground, ranked No. 11 league-wide. Washington is the NFL's third-best rushing attack at 165.4 yards per game. This mouth-watering chess game will go a long way to determining the overall outcome.
Brian Robinson Jr. should be the focal point of Kliff Kingsbury's offensive strategy. The former third-round selection made an impressive return to the lineup in Week 7 after missing one game with a knee issue. He's on pace for 1,056 rushing yards in 2024 if the same trend continues, so leaning on him heavily in this one would be wise.
This becomes more essential if veteran backup signal-caller Marcus Mariota gets the nod. But either way, how Robinson performs in the face of a decent-looking defensive front seven could hold the key to Washington's fortunes this weekend.
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
Benjamin St-Juste was a steady coverage presence in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. This was versus an anemic offense that couldn't get anything going, but taking small confidence boosts could lead to something bigger down the line.
St-Juste remains a tough evaluation. There are times when he looks like a decent cornerback capable of being part of the team's long-term plans. At other times, his concentration issues and lack of technique make it difficult to envisage a future with the Commanders beyond 2024.
It's a constant assessment for St-Juste before those in power decide his fate next spring. Keeping D.J. Moore relatively quiet against the Chicago Bears would go a long way to improving his fortunes for an extended stay.
Moore torched the Commanders from start to finish last season. He's one of the league's most underrated wideouts who continues to produce outstanding numbers despite some lackluster quarterbacks throughout his career. His connection with Caleb Williams is coming along nicely, so St-Juste must counteract this accordingly.
Anything less will come with grave consequences attached.
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT
Andrew Wylie's renaissance has been an incredible positive for the Washington Commanders this season. Things looked bleak for the veteran right tackle after an indifferent first campaign with the franchise. The new regime gave him another opportunity, hoping that improved schematics and the addition of offensive line coach Bobby Johnson would provide a spark.
This is already reaping significant rewards. Wylie's production is much-improved and Washington's protection quickly emerged as one of the team's bright spots. The former Eastern Michigan standout has yet to give up a sack from 454 offensive snaps. That is a far cry from the turnstile fans became depressingly accustomed to during the previous campaign.
Wylie gets a stern test of his credentials this weekend versus someone he played with last season. Montez Sweat is returning to Northwest Stadium for the first time he was traded to the Chicago Bears before the 2023 deadline. He'll want to make a good impression and make his old employers pay for their lack of confidence.
If Wylie can restrict Sweat with some help, there isn't much else on the Bears capable of generating consistent pressure. That will be a big boost to whichever quarterback is under center in Week 8.
Quan Martin - Commanders S
The Commanders' defense needs to be wary of the threat posed by Chicago in Week 8. They performed much better versus the lowly Carolina Panthers last time out, but this will be a different proposition entirely.
Their ground game isn't the best, although veteran running back D'Andre Swift is capable of generating yards when afforded enough space. The Bears' talent in the passing game is much more difficult to overcome. They've also got a quarterback capable of getting them the football consistently after drafting Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall.
Williams found his groove after some early jitters, so the challenge is a steep one. Second-year safety Quan Martin's role will be vital from a support standpoint on the backend, especially considering Jeremy Chinn could be playing closer to the line of scrimmage.
Martin's performed relatively well this season. It's not perfect by any stretch, so nothing but a top-level performance will do to prevent the Bears from carving up downfield yardage as the Commanders look to go 6-2 on the campaign.
