The Washington Commanders came unstuck late in their Week 10 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was thanks in no small part to execution issues on both sides of the football.
Washington's defense couldn't get a crucial stop when they needed it and a lapse in concentration on fourth down cemented the defeat. The same occurred on offense, with quarterback Jayden Daniels suffering from miscues with his prominent weapons in the passing game.
Luke McCaffrey, Noah Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Zach Ertz, and even Terry McLaurin all dropped catchable balls. The Commanders can get away with things like this versus inferior opposition. They won't be so lucky in the postseason.
And make no mistake, that's exactly where the Commanders expect to be after a memorable start to the campaign that sees them at 7-3 through 10 weeks.
General manager Adam Peters reportedly tried to find wide receiver help before the trade deadline to no avail. That leaves the prospect of looking at remaining free agents or which practice squad players around the league could fit into their plans quickly.
The Commanders might be confident in what they have. If not, here are five wide receivers they should consider signing for the business end of the campaign.
Wide receivers the Commanders could sign after Week 10 miscues
Commanders could sign Andre Baccellia
- Arizona Cardinals practice squad
Anyone who comes in needs to fit into offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's strategy immediately. That could lead the Washington Commanders to someone already familiar with the progressive play-caller if those in power decide additional reinforcements are needed.
Andre Baccellia spent time with Kingsbury on the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 and even got some involvement on the offensive rotation as a rookie. He's still on the team's practice squad, which makes him available for any team willing to sign him onto their 53-man roster.
This might not be something the Commanders legitimately consider when push comes to shove. Washington could also look for a proven commodity rather than scheme familiarity. There's just no telling for sure if this scenario comes to fruition.
Baccellia's sample size at the next level is too small despite an encouraging college career with the Washington Huskies. But if the player gets a seal of approval from Kingsbury, it couldn't be completely dismissed.
Commanders could sign Hunter Renfrow
It seems strange to see Hunter Renfrow's name still sitting on the market at this stage of the season. The polished pass-catcher was expected to find a new home quickly following his departure from the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite several interested parties coming forward, nothing has been worked out as of yet.
Renfrow dealt with some injury issues that halted a once-promising career. He looked like a potential superstar after gaining 103 receptions for 1,038 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. The decline was steep after that before the wideout the the Raiders went their separate ways.
The Washington Commanders wouldn't need miracles from Renfrow in this scenario. They need him to sharpen up their short-to-intermediate passing game and become a slick route runner capable of creating separation quickly. His 74.1 percent catch success rate indicates there is still something there dependability-wise despite the obvious red flags.
Just why Renfrow has been cast aside by the league at 28 years old is anyone's guess. But it wouldn't cost general manager Adam Peters to find out one way or another.
Commanders could sign Russell Gage
- San Francisco 49ers practice squad
Russell Gage is someone Dan Quinn knows well. The explosive wideout played the best football of his career under the head coach during their time together on the Atlanta Falcons. It didn't come with an elusive Super Bowl, but they came pretty close all things considered.
Gage left the Falcons in 2022 but couldn't firmly establish himself as a focal point with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's been sent to the fringes since, currently finding himself rooted on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad after a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens.
Considering how well Quinn and Gage hit it off in Atlanta, this is an intriguing possibility if the Commanders decide they need more help at the wide receiver position. The former sixth-round pick has plenty of big-game experience and knows how to make things happen with the football in his hands for good measure.
It's a long shot - everyone is on this list. But in terms of familiarity and proven production, Gage fits the bill despite spending 2023 on injured reserve.
Commanders could sign Donovan Peoples-Jones
- Detroit Lions practice squad
Donovan Peoples-Jones looked like he was destined for greatness during the 2022 season. The physically imposing wide receiver was a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive backs, putting his vast wing span and body control to good use en route to a career year.
This was something recognized by the Detroit Lions, who traded for the pass-catcher in 2023. Things didn't go nearly as well in a different environment, although Peoples-Jones did make it back onto the practice squad to avoid being excluded entirely this season.
The Lions are on a tear as expected and look like the team to beat in the NFC. Acquiring Peoples-Jones would give the Washington Commanders another dynamic weapon that could also provide some useful insider knowledge on a team they might meet in the postseason at some stage.
Peoples-Jones has a career yards per catch average of 15.5. He's a field stretcher who ran 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Giving him a shot over some of Washington's underperforming wideouts wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
Commanders could sign Julio Jones
I wonder what Julio Jones is up to these days?
The All-Pro wide receiver and future Pro Football Hall of Famer hasn't found a new club this season after spending 2023 on the fringes of the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones is far from the dominant force of old as father time catches up with the former first-round pick out of Alabama, but he knows Dan Quinn well from their time together in Atlanta.
Jones is almost 36 years old, so this might not be an option looking at the way general manager Adam Peters has molded the roster up to now. But using him in specialist packages and red-zone situations would take attention away from others.
That might sound strange given his age and lack of production over the last two years. However, Jones' reputation precedes him and would be respected by opposing defensive coordinators.
One must question what sort of football shape Jones would be in and just how much motivation the wideout has to get back involved even if the Commanders did make an offer. This is fun to think about, but it's a non-starter despite his connection to Quinn.
