5 Commanders players fans still can’t figure out through five games

It's been a trial by fire for many Washington Commanders players this season. Dan Quinn and the coaching staff have navigated some turbulent times on the injury front, with several established stars either out for the year or missing games when a strong start was crucial.

The fact that Washington is 3-2 through five games is a testament to the improved depth and fierce resolve across the roster. This group is made of stern stuff under Quinn. And now that players are getting healthy again, fans are expecting them to kick on despite a tough-looking stretch of games upcoming before their bye week.

This collective effort is the brotherhood Quinn preaches almost constantly. When their numbers are called, everyone is ready. It might not be perfect right now, but it could be a lot worse. And their emphatic victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5 was the statement everyone was hoping to see.

There is now a sufficient sample size. The Commanders can reach the postseason and potentially make some noise. If they can come through some complex challenges in the coming weeks, that will cement their status among the NFC favorites. Anything less, and it won't take long for questions to arise.

But there are also some players that Commanders fans are still trying to figure out through five contests in 2025. Here are five prime examples.

Commanders players the fans still can’t figure out through five games

Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL

When the Washington Commanders' offensive line crumbled in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury took drastic action. Replacing the two starting guards was a calculated risk, but it's paid off handsomely.

Chris Paul has been a surprising revelation at the left guard spot. On the right-hand side, Andrew Wylie is displaying the accomplished production that fans barely got to see for two seasons on the edge.

Wylie's been an easy scapegoat for Commanders fans since joining the club in 2023. He got overexposed on an island as the starting right tackle, leaving Adam Peters with no option other than to spend a first-round pick on Josh Conerly Jr.

He brought stability to the interior at a time when it was desperately needed. However, with right guard Sam Cosmi's return from a torn ACL imminent, Wylie is about to go back to the fringes.

Although disappointing from the player's perspective, Cosmi is a noticeable upgrade. Fans are still trying to determine if Wylie can be a dependable rotational piece worthy of another contract. But this surge in consistency could work in his favor next spring if the money is right.

Matt Gay - Commanders PK

The Washington Commanders moved swiftly to bring kicker Matt Gay into the fold once he was released by the Indianapolis Colts. Adam Peters wanted to upgrade the spot despite re-signing Zane Gonzalez, and he struck with conviction to seal the deal.

Washington also gave Gay the most guaranteed money for any kicker on a one-year deal in NFL history. That was a supreme vote of confidence in the player, but fans were approaching with caution after how things ended for the player in Indianapolis.

Things didn't look too promising for Gay early on. His continued struggles from deep were frustrating, and his three field goal misses over the opening three games had some fans calling for change. Head coach Dan Quinn kept faith, and he's starting to turn things around.

Gay has made all six of his field goals since. He's even made one from 56 yards, which must have been a massive relief for the former Pro Bowler. Although the trajectory is pointing up, everyone knows how precarious the life of an NFL kicker is.

Fans are still trying to figure out if the Commanders have a dependable long-term kicker in Gay, or if he's going to flounder in big moments when things get more testing down the stretch.

Tyler Owens - Commanders S

Tyler Owens was among the best feel-good stories of the 2024 offseason. The Commanders picked up the extremely athletic but inexperienced safety as an undrafted free agent, and he immediately began to make his presence felt. Washington rewarded him with a roster spot, but his rookie contribution was restricted to special teams.

Hopes were high that Owens could have a more significant impact this time around. The second-year pro made the squad once again, and he has been involved in the defensive rotation. However, something is preventing the Commanders from getting him heavily involved.

From a physical standpoint, Owens has everything. The Texas Tech product is a brute force on special teams, lending his explosiveness and improving instincts to a unit that is far exceeding expectations so far. There are some issues in coverage when tasks arrive on defense. Until they are resolved, it isn't easy to envisage a scenario where Joe Whitt Jr. trusts him enough to feature prominently with so much at stake for the Commanders this season.

That's the conundrum with Owens. Is he going to develop enough to be a long-term starter on defense? Or will he be forced to carve out a niche for himself as a special-teams ace and nothing more?

Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB

Marshon Lattimore's trade to the Washington Commanders signaled the official opening of their Super Bowl window. Adam Peters felt like his squad was far enough ahead of schedule to begin making bolder moves. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback was the first, but he wasn't the last.

It was a rough first few months in Washington for Lattimore. The defensive back was dealing with a hamstring that never healed. He struggled to provide the lockdown capabilities expected, but fans gave him the benefit of the doubt. Peters did too, believing that the veteran could thrive with a full offseason to learn the scheme and, more importantly, get healthy.

Lattimore looked like a million dollars in the summer. He was sharp, explosive, and firmly focused on the task at hand. There have been some impressive flashes this season, but some grave concerns cannot be overlooked, either.

The Ohio State product struggles with speedy receivers downfield. Lattimore has been exposed technically, leading to defensive pass interference penalties. His performances in Week 1 and 5 were exceptional, but they are too few and far between.

Is Lattimore working his way back to becoming a shutdown presence? Or is he on a steady decline? The jury is still out on that one.

Noah Brown - Commanders WR

Noah Brown's time with the Commanders so far has been a rollercoaster. There have been some memorable moments — one of which will go down in franchise history. But there have also been some ongoing frustrations that cannot be overlooked.

These mainly concern health issues. Brown suffered a severe internal injury against the Tennessee Titans last season that required kidney surgery. He got another one-year deal from the Commanders, but his summer was hindered by a knee complication that made him an innocent bystander for the most part.

Brown managed to get back for the start of the regular season, playing in the opening two games. The former Ohio State standout brought in three receptions from seven targets for 36 receiving yards, but groin and knee issues have seen him on the shelf ever since.

The Commanders are hopeful that Brown will feature against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, which invokes memories of his Hail Mary touchdown catch. But fans are still wondering if he is a valuable contributor these days, or if he's too injury-prone now to be counted upon.

The truth is probably somewhere in between. But fortunately for the Commanders, young players like Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane are stepping up when the team needs them most.