5 reasons for optimism for the Washington Commanders after the bye

It's Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, and the Washington Commanders are finally getting a much-needed break. They're on a bye this week, giving injured players some extra time to heal and rest before returning to the practice field next week.

This season has been rough, to say the least, for the Commanders. With widespread injuries having a heavy impact on their ability to not just function on the field, but to field a team that's effective. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin has spent much of the season on the bench with an injury after missing all of the offseason amidst contract negotiations. Jayden Daniels has missed multiple games, and each time he's returned, he's been injured again. Austin Ekeler, Luke McCaffrey, and Noah Brown are among those on injured reserve.

The defense is riddled with injuries, as well. Deatrich Wise was lost for the season in Week 2, and there are six other defensive players on injured reserve, including Dorance Armstrong, Trey Amos, and Marshon Lattimore.

It's not pretty for the burgundy and gold right now, so let's try to change our mindset. Let's take a look at five reasons for optimism after the bye week.

Health reset for key playmakers

Terry McLaurin, Treylon Burks and Jayden Daniels have all missed time with an injury, but are not on injured reserve. This bye week gives them all an opportunity to recover and potentially return to the field in Week 13. Even if they can't play a full game, a partial return is better than nothing.

Daniels' initial timetable was 3-6 weeks, and Week 13 is 4 weeks from his initial injury. The Commanders (and Daniels) got lucky that he did not need surgery on his dislocated elbow, and they are eyeing a return to the field before the season ends.

Dan Quinn took over defensive play-calling

The first week that Quinn took over defensive play-calling, the Commanders allowed the Miami Dolphins to score just 16 points. It's the third-fewest points the Commanders' defense has allowed all season, and it came after they allowed their opponents to score 38 or more points in three of their last five games. They didn't just allow fewer points, but they looked comfortable on the field. When players feel comfortable on the field, they perform better. This alludes to the fact that the players trust Quinn, and his play-calling could spark a defensive turnaround.

Veteran offensive leadership

Daniels may be off the field with an injury, but the remaining offensive players who are available are veterans. Marcus Mariota has stabilized the quarterback position in Daniels' absence. Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz have proven to be reliable targets and experienced playmakers who can mentor young talent. Laremy Tunsil may be new to the team, but he's not new to the game and was a huge addition for the Commanders this offseason. With time to re-group, the offensive line could become more consistent in protecting Mariota and Daniels.

Opportunity for young defenders to step up

With many of the defensive linemen sidelined with injury, Javon Kinlaw and Jer'Zhan Newton have flashed inside, and they were largely responsible for keeping De'Von Achane from repeating what he did to the Buffalo Bills. Achane torched the Bills' defense for 174 yards in Week 10, and the Commanders held him to 120 under Dan Quinn's tutelage. Kinlaw and Newton held it down with Daron Payne suspended, and they'll get him back after the bye, but they both proved their worth against the Dolphins on Sunday. The defensive personnel won't change beyond Payne's return, so Kinlaw and Newton will have an opportunity to prove they can be long-term building blocks on defense.

Organizational stability

The Dan Snyder era was full of turmoil, investigations, controversy, and corruption, but that ended in July 2023 when Josh Harris and his partners took over as ownership. The on-field struggles are frustrating right now, but the franchise as a whole is healthier structurally than it has been in years. Stable ownership and Dan Quinn's leadership provide a foundation for long-term growth.

Maybe that's not a reason to be optimistic about the Commanders after the bye, but it's a reason to be optimistic about their longevity and ability to remain competitive.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 5 reasons for optimism after the bye