If the 2022-23 Washington Commanders were a movie, the team lacked a leading man due to their uncertainty at quarterback. However, there is a cast of main characters including coach Ron Rivera, wide receiver Terry McLaurin and defensive tackle Daron Payne.
But as the credits roll on, which player would earn the spotlight as unsung hero?
NFL.com picked one unsung hero, whose contributions flew under the radar, from all 32 teams. Safety Darrick Forrest is the Seahawks selection:
Washington gets a lot of praise for its defensive strength up front, but the player who jumped off the screen to me in 2022 was this second-year safety. Evidently, Ron Rivera's staff felt similarly, moving Forrest from a rotational role into a starting spot in the second half of the season.
The ballhawk finished with four interceptions, nine passes defensed and 88 tackles, and his hard-hitting style produced two fumbles (he also had one recovery). I love watching this guy play, and he always seems to be around the ball.
Forrest lead the team with four interceptions and finished second with 88 tackles. The fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft also delighted the crowd with his celebratory backflips.
Forrest's solid contributions helped the Commanders to finish as a top-10 defense in 2022 by every metric: No. 3 in total defense, No. 11 in run defense and No. 7 in scoring defense. The secondary finished as the fourth-best pass defense unit in the league allowing just 191 yards to opponents per game.
"I really wanted to show my brothers that they can trust me," Forrest said to reporters after Washington's final game. "Next year, it's just gonna be improving the little things, anything that I felt like I missed this year, just correcting and getting better."
While the the Commanders did beat rival Dallas Cowboys in their season finale, the team fell short of their ultimate goal and missed the postseason. Washington will be watching the Super Bowl from home on Sunday, February 12. The Kansas City Chiefs (1.5-point underdogs) will try to pull the upset over the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale, Arizona to become Super Bowl LVII Champions.
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