5 surprising standouts from Commanders' blowout win vs. Panthers in Week 7

Dan Quinn must be thrilled by the response he received from his players during their Week 7 obliteration of the Carolina Panthers. This was a complete team effort. They comfortably dealt with one of the league's bottom feeders once again. It was another sign that the Washington Commanders were heading in the right direction under the new regime.

The Panthers aren't exactly world-beaters, which is being kind. Even so, the way Quinn kept his team focused and composed despite being heavily favored and having injury issues to contend with was immensely pleasing.

Washington will be hoping for good news about Jayden Daniels' rib injury. Brandon Coleman also adds his name to the growing list of health complications Quinn is dealing with. However, the professionalism and improved culture being installed by those in power are having the desired effect much sooner than expected.

With this in mind, here are five surprising standouts from Washington's impressive success over the Panthers at Northwest Stadium in Week 7.

Surprising standouts from Commanders' blowout win over the Panthers

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Commanders CB

Credit where it's due.

Just one week removed from being a healthy scratch at the Baltimore Ravens, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. got 67 percent of defensive snaps in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. The Washington Commanders had the game won by half-time, which helped, but the former first-round pick turned in a pleasing effort nonetheless.

Forbes even got in on the act when things were relatively competitive. The undersized defensive back came down with an interception - Andy Dalton's second of the afternoon - to put the exclamation point on proceedings. This was no doubt a major confidence boost for the player after a difficult campaign so far.

The Commanders aren't willing to give up on Forbes just yet. They are taking things slowly with the Mississippi State product, but it won't take long for opinions to change if he builds on arguably the best performance of his professional career to date.

Jeremy McNichols - Commanders RB

The Washington Commanders had to adjust on the fly when Jayden Daniels went down. Kliff Kingsbury did an exceptional job once again of finding the right balance offensively despite tricky circumstances. This centered on the ground game, which allowed Marcus Mariota to get comfortable and take advantage of passing opportunities as the game went on.

Washington carved up 214 rushing yards throughout the contest. Brian Robinson Jr. caught the eye upon returning to the lineup. Austin Ekeler, Mariota, and Daniels did their part. Jeremy McNichols also impressed considerably in limited involvement.

To say McNichols maximized his touches would be an understatement. The former fifth-round selection out of Boise State gained 42 rushing yards from seven carries. He's averaging 6.6 yards per carry on the season, which represents an outstanding return for the No. 3 option behind Robinson and Ekeler.

Picking and choosing McNichols' spots seems to be working well for the player and Washington right now. Expect this trend to continue throughout the season.

Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB

There were obvious concerns about the Commanders' defensive backs heading into Week 7. They've not performed up to the required standard and had no answer for the Baltimore Ravens last weekend. Fans were worried there would be more of the same versus a decent Carolina Panthers passing attack.

This was a challenge they took on with renewed purpose and determination. Playing with a lead helped enormously. Once the defensive front kept running back Chuba Hubbard largely in check, it provided an extra sense of freedom to be aggressive in coverage.

Noah Igbinoghene's come under fire in recent weeks. The former first-round selection has all the physical attributes one looks for in a standout cornerback, but it hasn't come together consistently enough as yet. This performance is exactly what head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. had in mind when they brought him into the fold.

Igbinoghene played with an urgency that was sorely lacking previously. He made a big effort in 49 percent of the team's defensive snaps before others came into the breach, so this is the standard he's set for himself moving forward.

Marcus Mariota - Commanders QB

Losing Jayden Daniels after the first drive filled the fanbase with concern. The Washington Commanders are riding on the crest of a wave with the rookie signal-caller leading the charge. His rib issue is a worry, but those in power were right to keep him off the field with the game getting out of hand by half-time.

Marcus Mariota was the man tasked with filling this gaping void. The veteran backup looked a little edgy early on. Perhaps it was the shock of being called upon right out of the gate. Thankfully for the Commanders, he settled down and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury got him into a rhythm.

Mariota looked poised, was largely accurate, and managed to make plays off-script to further raise encouragement. It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but the Oregon product proved his dependability if Daniels is forced to miss time.

The former No. 2 overall selection has limitations. Mariota isn't a fast processor - something Kingsbury should account for if he's under center once again in Week 8. But considering the circumstances, this was as good as Washington could have hoped for from the backup.

Cornelius Lucas - Commanders OT

It wasn't just quarterback Jayden Daniels who went out of action early in Week 7. The Commanders also lost the services of rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman with a concussion. This put the onus squarely on veteran Cornelius Lucas to man the blindside by himself.

Washington has been splitting reps between Coleman and Lucas almost evenly this season. It's worked like a charm, but the experienced offensive tackle proved he's more than capable of manning the spot until the third-round pick gets back based on this showing.

Lucas was accomplished in pass protection and provided physicality in the run game. The Panthers don't exactly have an elite defensive front even at full strength. Missing so many established stars made things easier, but the former Kansas State star deserves praise nonetheless.

With Coleman now in the NFL's concussion protocol, Lucas could gain the lion's share of work in Week 8. This will be against someone he knows well in Montez Sweat, who's coming back to Northwest Stadium for the first time since his trade to the Chicago Bears before the 2023 deadline.

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