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Terry McLaurin Terry McLaurin Four catches in season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 9:30 PM
McLaurin recorded four receptions on four targets for 57 yards in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Eagles.
Analysis: McLaurin was the only pass catcher to get anything going for the Commanders, as Josh Johnson managed just 131 passing yards. McLaurin made a long catch of 25 yards early in the second quarter, though he also drew four defensive penalties, two of which helped keep touchdown drives alive. McLaurin endured a tough 2025 season due to his own struggles to stay on the field, as well as Jayden Daniels (elbow) missing a significant portion of the year. However, McLaurin should have a strong chance to bounce back in 2026, as he had logged five consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards entering the current campaign. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Two catches in victory
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 9:19 PM
Samuel caught two of five targets for 20 yards and rushed twice for one yard in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Eagles.
Analysis: Samuel was held to two catches for the second straight week while his 20 receiving yards were his fewest since Week 8. The wide receiver has now completed his regular season having caught 72 of 99 targets for 727 yards and five touchdowns while also turning 17 carries into 75 yards and a score over 16 contests. Samuel will enter the offseason as a free agent, and he proved he's still got plenty left in the tank, recording his most receptions since the 2021 campaign. |
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River Cracraft River Cracraft Elevated for Sunday
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 3:38 PM
The Commanders elevated Cracraft from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Analysis: Cracraft has been elevated for consecutive weeks, finishing Christmas Day's loss against the Cowboys with just one snap on the special-teams unit. With Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Treylon Burks and Chris Moore all healthy and active, Cracraft is likely in line to see the same minimal special-teams snap share in Sunday's game. |
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Treylon Burks Treylon Burks Set to play Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 3:25 PM
Burks (illness) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest in Philadelphia, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Burks showed up Thursday as a non-participant due to an illness, but his return to all activity one day later sets him up to be available to the Commanders offense this weekend. While working with No. 3 QB Josh Johnson last Thursday against the Cowboys, Burks played 91 percent of the snaps but was targeted just twice, hauling in one of them for 11 yards. Burks likely will have a similar role Sunday working alongside top WRs Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel and Johnson under center in place of Marcus Mariota (right hand/quadriceps). |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Ruled out
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 11:24 AM
Mariota (hand/quad) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Josh Johnson will start for a second straight week. There's been no indication that Mariota's injury will be a problem this offseason, and he's been a good fit in Kliff Kingsbury's offense as the backup to Jayden Daniels (elbow). Still, there's some chance Mariota doesn't return to Washington, as he's currently on a one-year contract and thus can become an unrestricted free agent in March. |
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Josh Johnson Josh Johnson Named as Week 18 starter
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 11:21 AM
Johnson will start Sunday's game against the Eagles, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Commanders coach Dan Quinn named Johnson as his Week 18 starter Friday, ruling out Marcus Mariota (hand) for a second straight week. Washington also will be missing LT Laremy Tunsil (oblique) against an Eagles team that's expected to rest many starters. |
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Treylon Burks Treylon Burks Misses practice Thursday
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 3:42 PM
Burks (illness) did not practice Thursday.
Analysis: Burks wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, an indication that his illness is a new development. Unless he's able to resume practicing in full Friday, it appears that Burks will be assigned an injury designation for Washington's season finale against the Eagles on Sunday, for which third-string quarterback Josh Johnson is trending toward another start. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Misses another practice
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 3:22 PM
Mariota (hand) did not practice Thursday.
Analysis: Mariota is considered doubtful for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Eagles, so it's unsurprising to see him once again listed as a non-participant. The expectation is that Washington will roll with Josh Johnson under center versus Philadelphia on Sunday. |
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Jacory Croskey-Merritt Full practice Thursday
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 3:18 PM
Croskey-Merritt (illness) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Croskey-Merritt missed practice Wednesday due to an illness, but he appears to have already returned to full health. He and Chris Rodriguez look positioned to split backfield reps again during Sunday's regular-season finale against the Eagles. With Rodriguez sidelined by illness himself in Week 17, Croskey-Merritt managed to rush for 105 yards and two touchdown on just 11 carries, momentum that could result in him seeing a larger share of the backfield workload versus Philadelphia. |
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Jacory Croskey-Merritt DNP due to illness
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 3:23 PM
Croskey-Merritt didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness.
Analysis: Croskey-Merritt paced the Commanders backfield in place of an ill Chris Rodriguez last Thursday versus the Cowboys, taking 11 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Their fates have switched this week, though, as Rodriguez isn't listed on the injury report at all. As such, Rodriguez seems poised to take back a majority share of Washington's RB reps this Sunday in Philadelphia, even if Croskey-Merritt is well enough to play. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Not practicing, considered doubtful
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 3:18 PM
Mariota (hand/quad) didn't practice Wednesday and remains a "long shot" for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: The term 'long shot' comes directly from coach Dan Quinn, who is preparing his team for another week with QB Josh Johnson as the starter. |
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Chris Rodriguez Chris Rodriguez Puts illness behind him
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 3:09 PM
Rodriguez (illness) wasn't listed on the Commanders' first Week 18 injury report Wednesday.
Analysis: Rodriguez was added to Washington's injury report prior to last Thursday's game against the Cowboys due to an illness and was deemed inactive for Week 17. Now that Rodriguez is back to 100 percent, fellow RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who went off for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries versus Dallas in place of Rodriguez, didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness of his own. Rodriguez thus may retain a majority share of the Commanders backfield Sunday at Philadelphia if Croskey-Merritt's ailment follows him into the weekend. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Looking unlikely for Week 18
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 2:50 PM
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Monday that Mariota (hand/quadriceps) is "a stretch" to be available for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Eagles but has not been ruled out yet, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Mariota has not resumed practicing since suffering a pair of injuries during Washington's loss to the Eagles in Week 16, which paved the way for Josh Johnson to start versus the Cowboys in Week 17. Per Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C., Quinn said Mariota is not yet moving at full speed, and Zach Selby of the team's official site confirms that the veteran quarterback wasn't able to make it through Monday's walkthrough. If Mariota doesn't play Week 18, Johnson will close out the 2025 campaign under center for the Commanders. |
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John Bates John Bates Held without a catch vs. Cowboys
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 12:49 PM
Bates was not targeted during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.
Analysis: Bates played 43 percent of offensive snaps but didn't draw a single target from fill-in quarterback Josh Johnson, while Ben Sinnott (61 percent of snaps) secured three of four looks for 29 yards. Expect Bates to again contribute as the No. 2 tight end behind Sinnott during Washington's regular-season finale against the Eagles in Week 18. |
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Ben Sinnott Ben Sinnott Makes three grabs vs. Cowboys
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 12:39 PM
Sinnott secured three of four targets for 29 yards during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.
Analysis: Sinnott logged his first game of the season with more than a single grab during Washington's loss on Christmas Day, though he recorded a higher yardage total Week 15 versus the Giants due to a 36-yard downfield catch. The second-year pro played 61 percent of offensive snaps versus the Cowboys. Sinnott will close out the year as Washington's starting tight end during the team's regular-season finale on the road against Philadelphia in Week 18. |
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Treylon Burks Treylon Burks Held to one catch in loss to Dallas
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 12:24 PM
Burks secured one of two targets for one yard during Thursday's 30-23 loss to the Cowboys.
Analysis: Burks also attempted one pass on a trick play near the end of the third quarter, but he was sacked. Though Burks has found limited success as a deep threat in Washington, he was unable to get anything going with No. 3 quarterback Josh Johnson under center on Christmas Day. It will be beneficial to Burks' limited fantasy appeal if Marcus Mariota (hand) manages to return in time for Washington's regular-season finale against the Eagles in Week 18. |
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Jeremy McNichols Jeremy McNichols Tallies three grabs in Week 17 loss
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 12:19 PM
McNichols carried the ball once for minus-2 yards and secured all three of his targets for 12 yards during Thursday's 30-23 loss to the Cowboys.
Analysis: McNichols saw little involvement on offense even with Chris Rodriguez (illness) a late scratch for Thursday's divisional contest. Instead, Jacory Croskey-Merritt dominated backfield opportunities, rushing 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. If Rodriguez is able to retake the field Week 18 against Philadelphia, expect McNichols to revert to his usual No. 3 role. |
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Deebo Samuel Deebo Samuel Tops 90 scrimmage yards in loss
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 4:46 PM
Samuel caught two of four targets for 68 yards and added 25 rushing yards on two carries in the Commanders' 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Analysis: The 93 scrimmage yards were Samuel's highest total since Week 5. The veteran wideout hasn't handled more than four touches in any of the last four games, managing a 12-173-0 line on 19 targets during that span in addition to Thursday's 25 rushing yards. He'll look to make his first trip to the end zone since Week 11 in a Week 18 trip to Philadelphia. |
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Terry McLaurin Terry McLaurin Team-high five grabs Thursday
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 4:33 PM
McLaurin caught five of seven targets for 63 yards in the Commanders' 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Analysis: The five catches led Washington on the day, although Deebo Samuel finished with five more yards. McLaurin has been consistently productive since returning from a quadriceps strain in Week 13 despite the team's revolving door at quarterback, putting together a 21-322-2 line on 35 targets over the last five games. The star wideout will look to cap a disappointing season with a big performance in Week 18 against the Eagles. |
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Jacory Croskey-Merritt Breaks out on Christmas Day
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 4:28 PM
Croskey-Merritt carried the ball 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the Commanders' 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Christmas Day.
Analysis: The rookie running back kept Washington in the game, scoring from 10 yards out in the second quarter before breaking free for a 72-yard TD in the third. It was the second time this season Croskey-Merritt topped 100 rushing yards with multiple touchdowns in a game, and over the last three contests he's churned out 226 yards and four TDs. Chris Rodriguez (illness) will likely be back in action in Week 18 against the Eagles, but Croskey-Merritt has done more than enough of late to retain a significant role in the offense for the Commanders' season finale. |
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