Noah Brown catches a 52-yard touchdown pass in the end zone
Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown might miss the rest of the season due to an internal injury, coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Wednesday.
Initial reports stated that Brown had suffered a rib injury during Washington’s 42-19 win against the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 1.
Quinn gave an update on Brown’s condition as the Commanders (8-5) return from their bye week and get ready to face the New Orleans Saints (5-8) on Sunday.
“He’s going to be out for a while,” Quinn said. “He had a significant internal injury from the game, so that’s going to knock him out for a while.”
Brown caught three passes for 27 yards against the Titans before leaving the game late in the third quarter.
Noah Brown (NFL)
“During the game, between him and the medical staff, they did a really good job to address what was a serious injury,” Quinn said. “Fortunately, he’s going to be OK. But it’s going to knock him out for a bit.”
Quinn said it’s not certain that Brown will miss the rest of the season “but it’s likely heading that way.”
Brown is third on the team in receptions (35) and receiving yards (453), and he has one touchdown in 11 games (nine starts). His touchdown came on a 52-yard Hail Mary pass that helped Washington beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 in Week 8.
A seventh-round draft pick by Dallas in 2017, Brown has 150 catches for 2,000 yards and six touchdowns in 87 games (34 starts) with the Cowboys (2017-18, 2020-22), Houston Texans (2023), and Commanders.
Before drafting Jayden Daniels and making him the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders, first-year general manager Adam Peters made it clear that this was not going to be a long-term rebuild.
To help quickly improve the team, the Commanders brought in experienced veterans like Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, Frankie Luvu, Jeremy Chinn, Dante Fowler, and Austin Ekeler.
These players brought years of NFL experience. When a losing streak threatened to derail the season, Wagner spoke to his teammates before practice last week, reminding them that they needed to get back to enjoying the game.
“We just needed to have fun,” Wagner said. “As the expectations started to grow, we needed to get back to just having fun. That’s why we were playing so well.”
The players responded by beating Tennessee, ending their three-game losing streak, and going into the bye week with an 8-5 record, on track for a playoff spot.
Washington Commanders players celebrate a touchdown in the 1st half
New coach Dan Quinn calls the current situation “base camp,” with more challenges ahead. Thanks to Wagner, Ertz, Luvu, Chinn, Fowler, Ekeler, and others, the team has created a strong and competitive identity, turning the season around.
“Those are what I would consider the lead sled dogs,” Quinn said on Monday. “And when it comes time and you get into December and January football, you lean on players like that.”
The Commanders will continue to rely on these veterans during the final stretch of the season. They have games at New Orleans on Dec. 15, at home against Philadelphia on Dec. 22, against Atlanta on Dec. 28 or 29, and then a season finale at Dallas on Jan. 4 or 5.
These veterans have already been crucial in helping the team reach this point. Wagner, Chinn, and Luvu are the top three tacklers on the team. Fowler leads the team with 8 1/2 sacks, and Ertz is second in receiving yards and touchdown catches.
That would have meant little if the losing streak had reached four games, which could have ruined the playoff hopes that looked strong earlier in November. But except for Ekeler, who is on injured reserve due to a concussion, every other veteran made an important contribution in the win against the Titans.
“It’s really just to steady the ship, honestly,” said Ertz, whose touchdown pass from Daniels was his fourth of the season. “I’ve played in this league a long time, and three games don’t define you as a football team by any means. It’s really just making sure guys don’t overreact. Guys didn’t need to do anything they weren’t capable of doing. It really was to play within yourself, trust each other and believe in one another.”
The Commanders have improved significantly on defense this season compared to 2023, when they ranked last in the league. This is not surprising, considering they have six new starters across 11 spots.
Washington Commanders celebrate in the 1st half
Wagner, a six-time All-Pro linebacker, leading the team at 34 years old has been a key part of the improvement. His success has been supported by Luvu, who has become one of the best players on the field in recent weeks.
“I knew what the ballplayer would bring: blitzing, pass rushing, and that was on tape — I’d seen that,” Quinn said about Luvu. “What I didn’t know was the energy and love he brought as a teammate. And so that has been almost as impactful, about the way that he cares for one another, the way he looks after his teammates, the way he goes so hard. They see that in him.”
This was the plan from the start, even when expectations were low. Before Week 1, BetMGM Sportsbook set the Commanders’ over/under win total at 6 1/2, a number that they have already surpassed, thanks to veteran leadership keeping things from falling apart.
One more win will guarantee Washington’s first winning season since 2016. They are also close to making just their sixth playoff appearance this century. Now, all that’s left is to finish the season strong.
“There’s still a lot of things we can fix, but winning is always better than losing,” Wagner said. “I think it will be fun these last four games.”
Washington Commanders players celebrate a touchdown in the 1st half
Jayden Daniels didn’t want to spend half of December thinking about a losing streak.
“I didn’t want to go into the bye week with an ‘L,’” he said.
Daniels made sure that didn’t happen, throwing two of his three touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin and running for another touchdown to lead the Washington Commanders to a 42-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. This win ended their three-game losing streak, and the team was all smiles after their first win in almost a month.
“It’s always great to win,” Daniels said. “Obviously, winning always makes everything better.”
Daniels completed 25 of 30 passes for 206 yards, including the touchdown passes to McLaurin and Zach Ertz. Despite throwing an interception, he strengthened his position as a favorite for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Will Levis walk to the sidelines in the 1st half
Brian Robinson Jr., returning from an ankle sprain, rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown. The defense and special teams each forced a fumble in a game the Commanders (8-5) had under control before halftime.
“That was one of the best displays of complementary football we’ve played in a little while, and we still didn’t play our cleanest,” McLaurin said. He finished with eight catches for 73 yards and was cheered with chants of “Terry! Terry!” throughout the game. “For us to do that against a really solid team just shows us what we can do if we execute at a high level and play off of one another.”
The win, following losses to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Dallas, keeps Washington solidly in a playoff spot before their bye week. The offense returned to its early-season form, easing concerns about Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury during the losing streak.
“We trust Kliff and the offensive staff to put us in the best situation to be successful,” McLaurin said. “But it’s on us to be able to execute the plan, and I feel like we did a better job of that than we had the past few weeks.”
The Commanders converted nine of 14 third downs and took a 28-0 lead just over 19 minutes into the game, marking the fastest such lead since 2019. Washington scored 21 points in the first quarter for the first time since 2015.
Terry McLaurin catches a pass in the 1st half
Daniels played a big role, extending plays with his legs and rushing for 34 yards, including his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. Coach Dan Quinn praised Daniels, saying, “He was able to fully express himself today (with) runs, keeping, creating on the move.”
Tennessee (3-9) didn’t score until late in the second quarter, when Will Levis threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The two connected again for another touchdown with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Titans, for much of the first half, had more penalty yards than offensive yards and couldn’t recover from the early deficit. This loss ended any hopes of a playoff push following their surprising win over Houston last week.
“Keep going — it’s all we can do,” Levis said after the game. He completed 18 of 37 passes and was sacked twice. “We just keep finding different ways to shoot ourselves in the foot.”
The Washington Commanders released their 2023 first-round pick, Emmanuel Forbes, on Saturday, ending their connection with another high draft selection from the previous coaching staff.
All of former coach Ron Rivera’s first-round picks — including edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in 2021, and wide receiver Jahan Dotson in 2022 — are now gone. Forbes didn’t show progress under the new coach, Dan Quinn, and was a healthy scratch twice this season. He also didn’t play in two other games even though he was on the roster.
It’s unclear if Forbes’ release has anything to do with the status of cornerback Marshon Lattimore, whom the Commanders acquired at the trade deadline in early November. Lattimore has yet to play for the team due to a hamstring injury and was listed as doubtful for Washington’s home game against Tennessee on Sunday.
The Commanders (7-5) also placed running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve due to a concussion. They promoted kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive tackle Carl Davis from the practice squad in preparation for their game against the Titans (3-8).
Emmanuel Forbes leaves the game after the game
Washington has lost three straight games, dropping from first place in the NFC East to the final wild-card spot in the conference. The most recent loss was to division rival Dallas, where a missed extra point by Austin Seibert in the final moments prevented the game from tying.
Seibert was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week due to a groin injury, which Quinn said Seibert reported on Monday.
Injuries have been a challenge for the Commanders as they await their late bye week. The selection of Forbes, who weighed just 166 pounds, has been questioned since Rivera’s front office chose him with the 16th pick over other players like Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez, selected right after Forbes by New England, has started all 16 games for the Patriots.
Forbes was benched last season by Rivera, who also made other questionable picks like choosing Jamin Davis over offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in 2021 and taking Jahan Dotson instead of safety Kyle Hamilton or wide receiver Chris Olave in 2022. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 games.
Austin Seibert fought back tears as he took responsibility for missing the extra point that would have tied the game in the final minute. Jeremy Reaves also fought tears, blaming himself for a missed assignment that allowed a kickoff return touchdown. John Bates choked back tears while discussing moving forward after his costly fumble.
These late mistakes played a big part in the Washington Commanders’ third straight loss, 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
The game was mostly uneventful until the fourth quarter, when both teams combined to score 31 points in the final four minutes, the highest total in an NFL game in over ten years. The loss hurt Washington’s playoff hopes, dropping them to 7-5.
“Losing like that is tough, but it’s never just one play,” said rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. “There are plays throughout the game where little things add up to big things.”
Jayden Daniels in the 2nd half
There were many little things that went wrong. After Bates’ fumble, the Cowboys took an 11-point lead. The Commanders made a 2-point conversion to cut it to three, but Dallas’ KaVonte Turpin returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
“I didn’t make the play when it was there to make, and it cost us,” Reaves, one of the league’s top special teams players and an All-Pro two seasons ago, said. “No excuse. I’ve made that play 100 times, but I didn’t today, and it cost us the game. It’s unacceptable. It’s on me. It’s going to hurt for a while.”
After Seibert made a 51-yard field goal, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard touchdown pass to put Washington ahead 27-26 with 21 seconds left.
Coach Dan Quinn said there was never any thought of going for two points in that situation. Seibert missed the extra point attempt, sending it wide left.
“I just wasn’t striking it well,” Seibert said. “I felt fine, and it wasn’t a low snap. It was on me.”
Immediately after, Juanyeh Thomas returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown, giving Dallas an eight-point lead with just 14 seconds remaining.
The 31 combined points in those final moments is the second-highest in an NFL game since 2000, just behind the 36 points scored in the Minnesota-Baltimore game on Dec. 8, 2013. This game was the first in the Super Bowl era to feature two missed extra points, two kickoff return touchdowns, and a blocked punt.
“Down to the end, it was a game-situational extravaganza,” said Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. “It was like Yahtzee. Everything was in there.”
Isreal Mukuamu celebrates in the 1st half
While Washington’s losing streak continued, the Cowboys snapped their five-game skid thanks to solid play from QB Cooper Rush, a defense that forced two turnovers, and strong special teams. Rush was 24 of 32 for 247 yards, with touchdown passes to Jalen Tolbert and Luke Schoonmaker.
“Lot of games left,” Rush said. “We’re sitting at 4-7. This is why you play them.”
The Commanders now face some tough questions after losing as 10 1/2-point favorites in an NFC East rivalry game. It was a loss that left many players deeply emotional.
“The crazy games feel a little bit better when you win them,” said punter and holder Tress Way. “But that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Austin Ekeler rushes for a 1-yard rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Austin Ekeler suffered a concussion in the final minute of the Washington Commanders’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Coach Dan Quinn mentioned that he and general manager Adam Peters were able to visit Ekeler before he was sent to the hospital. A team spokesperson explained that the decision to transport Ekeler was made out of caution.
Ekeler, 29, got hurt when he was tackled by Damone Clark and Nick Vigil during a kickoff return with 9 seconds left in the game. He stayed down on the field for a while while medical staff attended to him, and players from both teams knelt around him with their helmets off.
Austin Ekeler avoids a tackle by Tyler Nubin in the 4th quarter
In addition to Ekeler, lineman Andrew Wylie also suffered a concussion, and running back Brian Robinson Jr. sprained his ankle in Washington’s third straight loss.
Ekeler is in his first season with the Commanders after spending his first nine years with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The ball bounced through KaVonte Turpin’s legs and stopped near the 1-yard line. He picked it up, spun around, and sprinted down the field.
Turpin’s 99-yard kickoff return touchdown was the standout play in the Dallas Cowboys’ 34-26 win against Washington on Sunday, ending their five-game losing streak. This exciting play came with just under three minutes left, and then Juanyeh Thomas returned an onside kick for a touchdown to add to the excitement in an otherwise difficult season.
“Feels good to win,” said coach Mike McCarthy. “It’s been a minute.”
Key plays earlier in the game also helped set up the Cowboys’ comeback, including Chauncey Golston stripping the ball from Brian Robinson Jr., which counted as an interception against Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and Donovan Wilson forcing a fumble from John Bates. Cooper Rush also played a big role in getting the team into position to make a comeback.
Turpin’s incredible return after a brief fumble excited everyone.
“He did that for timing,” McCarthy explained. “That was part of the plan. He’s a special young man. Obviously a huge play for us.”
Juanyeh Thomas celebrates in the 2nd half
Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves, an All-Pro special teams player two years ago, was the first to reach Turpin on the play. He took the blame for missing the tackle when he had the chance.
“I’ve made that play 100 times,” Reaves said. “I didn’t make it today, and it cost us the game.”
Turpin’s spin move will likely be shown repeatedly on highlight reels. Receiver CeeDee Lamb called it “his escape move” because Turpin has been practicing it.
“I know I can just get them going one way and then spin back the other way,” Turpin said. “That’s just one of my moves when I’m in trouble and I’ve got nowhere to go: something nobody ever seen before.”
In a wild finish that McCarthy compared to a game of Yahtzee, Thomas’ touchdown was just as unexpected. It happened with 14 seconds left after Washington kicker Austin Seibert missed an extra point following an 86-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Terry McLaurin, leaving Dallas up 27-26.
“I kind of waited a second and I was like: ‘Should I try? Should I try?’” Thomas said. “I said, ‘I think I’m gonna score the ball,’ so I just ran and I scored.”
The Cowboys’ playoff chances are still slim at 4-7, but with the New York Giants coming to Dallas for the traditional Thanksgiving Day game, the players are allowing themselves to dream after winning for the first time since October 6.
“Lot of games left,” said Rush, who threw two touchdown passes. “Pretty insane… I think both sides of the ball and special teams picked each other up all game. I think it was a full team effort. Finally picking each other up like we’re supposed to.”
