5 Commanders quietly moving up the depth chart during early turmoil

There has been a lot of panic connected to the Washington Commanders in recent days. There is also no need for fans to get overly concerned just yet, despite some early turmoil for head coach Dan Quinn's squad to navigate.

A 1-1 record through two games isn't the end of the world. It's still extremely early in the process. However, the Commanders' loss to the Green Bay Packers, coupled with some troubling injury problems, has inevitably caused unrest.

Quinn is staying the course. His players are experienced enough to do the same. This franchise overcame significant adversity last season to fight its way to the NFC Championship game. Reaching those heights again will be difficult, but hopes remain high that they can enjoy a profitable campaign with loftier expectations on their shoulders.

The health issues are problematic. Some veteran players aren't quite meeting expectations, which is arguably a graver issue. If the Commanders want to renew confidence, it must be a collective effort, and there are a few rotational pieces who'll be counted upon more than ever moving forward.

With this in mind, here are five Commanders players quietly moving up the depth chart after just two games of the 2025 campaign.

Commanders players quietly moving up the depth chart during early turmoil

Eddie Goldman - Commanders DL

The Washington Commanders have improved against the run overall through two games. That could be about to change after defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. suffered a season-ending quad injury at Lambeau Field.

Wise performed well during his extremely brief stint on the field. He set clean edges against the run, and his two quarterback hits ranked joint-12th among qualifying edge players. It's a massive hole that must be filled, which could result in more time on the field for free-agent signing Eddie Goldman in the coming weeks.

Goldman has been nothing short of outstanding so far. He's displaying elite credentials against the run, as evidenced by his 80.4 grade in this discipline by Pro Football Focus. This ranks fifth among interior linemen around the league. His 83.5 overall grade ranks fourth, which is something the Commanders should tap into more without Wise to depend upon.

Dan Quinn stated there will be some maneuvering. The Commanders could place Javon Kinlaw more on the edge and Goldman next to Daron Payne on the interior on early downs. It's not ideal, but this is an option to consider in Week 3 when first-round rookie Ashton Jeanty and the Las Vegas Raiders come to town.

Ben Sinnott - Commanders TE

The Washington Commanders have to think on their feet at the tight end position. Blocking specialist John Bates sustained a groin injury on Thursday Night Football, which head coach Dan Quinn stated will probably keep him out this weekend at Northwest Stadium.

Considering four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby will be going up against rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr., this presents Washington with a big problem. One only has to look at how much the Oregon product struggled versus the pass-rushing duo of Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary in Week 2 to see what complications could arise if the right game plan isn't in place.

That brings Ben Sinnott under the microscope. The 2024 second-round pick didn't get involved much after Bates went out. However, that could change with a whole week to prepare.

The Commanders were expecting big things from Sinnott when they took him at No. 53 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It's been an underwhelming start to his professional journey to date. But if there was ever a time for the Kansas State product to step up, it's now.

One thing is for sure: fans will find out precisely what the Commanders think of Sinnott by examining his Week 3 usage.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE

As previously stated, losing Deatrich Wise Jr. for the rest of 2025 is a body blow to the Commanders' defensive front. He's a dependable veteran who does all the little things well. Considering the concerns about the lack of edge depth, it's no surprise to see general manager Adam Peters exploring alternative options.

According to the NFL's transaction wire, the Commanders worked out edge rusher Preston Smith on Tuesday. No deal was confirmed in its immediate aftermath, which could suggest Washington is willing to move forward with what they have before deciding on more drastic measures.

That could be good news for Javontae Jean-Baptiste. The 2024 seventh-round selection split time with Jacob Martin on the edge when Wise went out of the game. He showed willingness against the run, but the Notre Dame product lacks the pass-rushing arsenal to make a significant difference right now.

Jean-Baptiste has moved up the pecking order after Wise's injury. How much longer he stays there remains to be seen, and a stern test awaits this weekend against in-form Las Vegas Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller.

For all the Raiders' complications through two games, Miller has been almost flawless. But if Jean-Baptiste can make things happen when his number is called, that'll improve his long-term outlook.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB

Austin Ekeler's bid to cement his status as the No. 1 running back this season came to an abrupt halt. The Washington Commanders were dealt another major setback when the dual-threat weapon suffered a torn Achilles, ruling him out for the entire campaign.

Considering Ekeler is out of contract next spring, he's likely played his final game for the Commanders. Although disappointing, it's an opportunity for Washington's younger backfield weapons to step up and make their presence felt.

The Commanders will reportedly move forward with seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as their top option. Jeremy McNichols is the stable veteran presence. Washington also signed Chase Edmonds to the practice squad. He has been injured a lot lately, but the player boasts a previous connection to Kliff Kingsbury from their time together on the Arizona Cardinals.

There's also Chris Rodriguez Jr. to factor into the equation. The former Kentucky standout impressed over the summer once again, but he was inactive over the first two games. With Ekeler's injury, he should now be back in the mix, which was a sentiment echoed by head coach Dan Quinn.

Rodriguez is ascending. He also performed exceptionally well when opportunities came his way in 2024. Croskey-Merritt can't do it alone, so utilizing his skills is a must.

Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR

It's another week of injury problems around Noah Brown. The wide receiver went off against the Green Bay Packers with a soft tissue problem. Head coach Dan Quinn revealed that it's a long shot he plays this weekend, which is becoming a depressingly familiar feeling for the Ohio State product.

Brown's first season in Washington ended with an internal injury that required kidney surgery. He missed most of the summer with a knee complication after being carted off at mandatory minicamp. This latest problem only adds to the fact that the Commanders cannot depend on him to be available anymore.

It's next man up. The Commanders signed Chris Moore from the practice squad to their active roster, likely to bolster depth rather than throw him into a prominent role. Jaylin Lane's outlook should be much more promising.

The rookie fourth-rounder has played 41 percent of the team's offensive snaps so far, bringing in two receptions from six targets for 13 receiving yards. Lane is being brought along gradually, but more is required if Brown is unavailable as expected.

Luke McCaffrey could also see more involvement. Kliff Kingsbury needs more dynamism from his offense, so he has nothing to lose by throwing this young duo into the proverbial fire.