Benjamin St-Juste and 3 Commanders who shouldn't play another snap post-bye

All signs are pointing toward Lattimore making his long-awaited Commanders debut in Week 15. Against his former team the New Orleans Saints, no less. That's fate for you.

Regardless of his first opponent, Lattimore's availability puts St-Juste's position in the starting lineup in jeopardy. Not only is the Ohio State product an obvious upgrade, but he's somebody who can handle one-on-one matchups against an opponent's best receiver.

St-Juste also has a problem because of the rapid strides made by Mike Sainristil. Washington's second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has proven he's no niche defensive back, limited only to the slot. Instead, he has been able to handle coverage responsibilities on the boundary.

Add in the recent playing time granted to offseason acquisitions Michael Davis and Noah Igbinoghene, and St-Juste's time looks all but up. He's not the only member of the defense who should expect more time on the bench.

Phidarian Mathis - Commanders DT

Dan Quinn's decision to make Phidarian Mathis a healthy scratch for the win over the Tennessee Titans before the bye should have put the former Alabama lineman on high alert. It was a clear signal coaches were losing confidence in the player selected No. 47 overall back in 2022.

That's an ominous sign, but so is who the Commanders are willing to trust ahead of Mathis. Namely, two journeymen from NFL practice squads, Sheldon Day and Carl Davis.

Day has been a useful disruptor in the absence of injured linchpin Jonathan Allen. Standing just 6-foot-1, but possessing a thick and powerful 294-pound base, he plays with good natural leverage and knows how to split gaps.

The 30-year-old struggles with occupying double teams and moving the pile with brute force. That's an area where Davis can be an asset.

Experience with both the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots taught Davis how to play two-gap techniques. The Ravens and Pats play defenses based less on the relentless activity upfront Quinn and Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. prefer, and more around handling two blockers, clogging running lanes, and keeping linebackers clean to flow to the ball.

Davis and his hefty 335-pound frame showcased those traits across 14 snaps against the Titans in Week 13. Most of those snaps came over the ball as a traditional nose tackle.

The Commanders need one of those not only to keep blockers off linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner but also to take attention away from Daron Payne. He's still the most imposing force along the interior of Washington's defensive line, but getting help from another source spells more trouble for Mathis.

Just like Benjamin St-Juste, Mathis is being upstaged by a rookie. The player in question is Mike Sainristil's fellow second-rounder, Johnny Newton.

He's still raw, but Newton has the core attributes, including a quick takeoff and natural versatility, to eventually earn a bigger role. Likely at the expense of Mathis.

Change should also be afoot for the Commanders on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT

Bless Cornelius Lucas Jr. for his versatility. That quality could be key to helping the Washington Commanders resolve an awkward problem on the right side of the offensive line.

Specifically, the problem relates to Andrew Wylie. Things just haven't worked out for the lineman who had the game of his life to help the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl 57 following the 2022 season.

Wylie cashed in a standout performance on the biggest stage to earn a handsome contract in 2023 free agency. The problem is he's beginning to look like a one-hit wonder.

Consistent struggles in pass protection and difficulty moving the pile in the running game have made Wylie the weak link upfront. Those problems, combined with recent shoulder and concussion issues, have made the 30-year-old a prime candidate to be replaced, sooner rather than later.

While bringing in veteran help now may be unlikely, the Commanders could look closer to home for a solution. It's what coach Bobby Johnson did when he moved Lucas to the right side against the Tennessee Titans.

Lucas handled the position switch with minimal fuss. Being somebody coaches don't have to worry about should mean he keeps his spot after the bye. So should the emergence of rookie Brandon Coleman.

The third-round pick this year looks like a bargain after being flawless in pass protection against Tennessee, according to The 33rd Team.

Coleman is beginning to develop into a viable blindside protector for Jayden Daniels. Keeping Lucas on the right will give him more reps to build on his recent development and make arguably the second-most important spot on the team his own.

That would leave Wylie to assume a more suitable role as a swing backup who can slot in at tackle on both sides of the line. Being a useful deputy has eluded one established member of the Commanders' inconsistent wide receiver corps.

Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR

Unlike Benjamin St-Juste and Phidarian Mathis, Olamide Zaccheaus hasn't found himself upstaged by a rookie. Not when third-rounder Luke McCaffrey is still struggling to be a factor.

McCaffrey's stalled development doesn't completely excuse the lack of impact made by Zaccheaus. He's snagged a mere 27 catches, although 14 have gone for first downs.

What Zaccheaus hasn't done is find the end zone or protect the football. He's yet to score a touchdown, but the ex-Atlanta Falcons wideout has fumbled three times.

Zaccheaus has also barely made a dent on special teams. His 10.5-yard average returning punts is solid, but not spectacular.

The modest numbers are a problem for Zaccheaus. Especially when familiar face Jamison Crowder is nearing a return after the team opened his 21-day practice window on Monday.

Crowder is a natural slot receiver who knows how to get open underneath and turn short passes into long gains. The latter quality could be invaluable as long as running back Austin Ekeler, a prolific pass-catcher out of the backfield, remains on injured reserve.

The returning Crowder can beat coverage between the numbers. He's also a useful return man who's averaged 19 returns of punts and kickoffs during his 10-year career.

Giving Crowder reps alongside McCaffrey and Dyami Brown can help the Commanders better support Daniels' No. 1 target, Terry McLaurin. Add in the work of tight ends Zach Ertz, John Bates, and rookie Ben Sinnott, and Zaccheaus looks like the odd man out.

Much will depend on what the Commanders now have planned with Noah Brown set for an extended period on the sidelines. That could be Zaccheaus' saving grace when push comes to shove.

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