5 Commanders players on the verge of disaster in preseason Week 2

The Washington Commanders are gearing up for a Monday Night Football preseason showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. And for some on the roster, this might be the final chance they get to impress.

Head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters were less than pleased by the execution and overall standards from their squad during Washington's preseason opener against the New England Patriots. It was a lackluster performance from start to finish, which brought some stern words and several personnel changes to further raise urgency.

Time is running out to stake a claim. The Commanders are getting closer to final cuts, and those in power probably have a good feel about how the roster is going to look by this point. Nobody will be giving up without a fight, but it's a long road back for those who are starting to regress at the wrong time.

Considering the Bengals are set to play their starters in the first quarter once again, Quinn could do the same. However, looking at the injuries to the offensive line, that might not include star quarterback Jayden Daniels when push comes to shove.

Regardless of whether Daniels suits up or not, these five Commanders players are on the verge of disaster if performance levels don't increase with the primetime spotlight glaring.

Commanders players on the verge of disaster in preseason Week 2

Tyre Phillips - Commanders OT

The Washington Commanders worked out George Fant and Cameron Fleming this week. Although neither veteran offensive tackle managed to secure a deal immediately, the franchise will reportedly stay in touch with both. That raises the stakes for those on the books aiming to stick around for the real action.

There weren't many who emerged from Washington's first warmup game with credit. Tyre Phillips was among those who struggled to find the consistency needed. If the same happens at Northwest Stadium in preseason Week 2, that might be enough for the Commanders to cut this experiment short.

Phillips was a new signing this offseason. His previous connection to offensive line coach Bobby Johnson from their time together with the New York Giants had fans hoping for a smooth transition. It hasn't gone quite according to plan, so this contest could be the last chance saloon for the veteran in pursuit of an extended stay.

Cincinnati's defensive front isn't exactly formidable, especially with All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson holding out for his new deal. If Phillips cannot perform well, the consequences will be severe.

Chris Moore - Commanders WR

Concerns are growing around the wide receiver room. The Washington Commanders looked in good shape earlier in the offseason, but Terry McLaurin's ongoing contract standoff and Noah Brown's injury issues are exposing the lack of legitimate options.

Adam Peters made one minor change this week, but nothing extraordinary. The Commanders are giving those who underachieved against the New England Patriots another chance to impress. If they don't deliver this time around, they might not get a third opportunity.

Chris Moore will be under a bigger microscope than most. The veteran caught the eye over early workouts with some outstanding plays. Unfortunately, he was unable to bring this into a more typical game-day setting with two crucial drops at Gillette Stadium.

The Commanders aren't giving up on Moore just yet, but that time could be coming soon if he cannot maximize the opportunities that come his way versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He's further down the wideout depth chart than ever, which decreases the margin for error. Any more mistakes will not be tolerated.

Moore is now a long shot to make the 53-man roster. If he cannot fight back in the face of adversity, the former fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati might not even make it to cut-down day.

Ben Nikkel - Commanders S

Things are becoming clearer with Washington's safety dynamic. That's bad news for those still searching for ways to make an impression.

Quan Martin and Will Harris are the starting tandem. An exceptional summer from Jeremy Reaves has seen him surge into the No. 3 spot. Percy Butler is a solid depth piece and core special-teams presence. Tyler Owens should also make it as a versatile box safety who can also be deployed at the defensive second level when required.

That will be the five Washington takes through unless something drastic emerges in the coming weeks. This puts everyone else on the back foot, especially considering the Commanders recently signed former third-round pick Daryl Worley after a successful tryout.

Worley's arrival isn't exactly a vote of confidence in Ben Nikkel. The defensive back spent last season on the practice squad without doing enough to feature at any stage. However, the Commanders wanted to see if some untapped potential remained by giving him a reserve/futures contract this offseason.

Nikkel hasn't kicked on as some hoped. Unless there is a major upturn in production versus the Bengals and beyond, making the practice squad is probably the best he can hope for once again.

And even that isn't guaranteed with the likes of Robert McDaniel and Worley competing for spots.

Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE

It looked for a long time as if Colson Yankoff was a lock to make the Washington Commanders' 53-man roster. However, recent signs seem to suggest that might not be the case.

Yankoff did remarkably well to rise from undrafted obscurity to secure his place last summer. The Commanders practically redshirted the former UCLA standout in his rookie year, making him a healthy scratch more often than not. Although disappointing, being around the squad was an invaluable experience.

This is a what have you done for me lately league. Yankoff flashed earlier this offseason, but the emergence of Lawrence Cager threatens to shake things up considerably. Unless the second-year pro matches him, it could provoke the Commanders into a change in direction.

Much will also depend on how many tight end spots the Commanders allocate. Pro Bowler Zach Ertz and blocking specialist John Bates are the established duo who both got new deals this offseason. There's also the presence of 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott to factor into the equation.

The Commanders believe there is more to come from Sinnott. If the staff believes that'll be enough, Yankoff will be off the team unless he leaves no doubt over Washington's final two preseason games.

Sam Hartman - Commanders QB

Jayden Daniels is the superstar quarterback. Marcus Mariota is an experienced backup and an exceptional mentor presence. That is set in stone, but the battle to become Washington's third quarterback option is far from a done deal.

It seemed as if former undrafted free agent Sam Hartman was in the driver's seat to secure the job. However, that might not be the case after Washington's first preseason outing against the New England Patriots.

Hartman had a rough evening at the office. He was hesitant in the pocket and looked completely out of sync. That wasn't the case with experienced veteran Josh Johnson, who turned in a much more consistent performance.

Johnson is a journeyman who's played for more teams than anyone in NFL history. In an ideal world, Hartman will stick around as a development project, but it's starting to look like he's fighting a losing battle.

A huge effort is needed against the Cincinnati Bengals. The AFC North club boasts a defense that can best be described as atrocious. If Hartman cannot carve up this group on home soil, that could be everything the Commanders need to see as part of their ongoing assessments.

What comes next is down to Hartman. But it's a razor-thin scenario that could go either way.

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