Commanders are not making defensive staff changes

The Commanders were one of the NFL’s pleasant surprises during a 12-win season in which they advanced to the NFC title game last year. Now 3-6 in 2025, they’ve already surpassed last season’s loss total. The Commanders’ defensive drop-off has contributed to their decline.

After finishing seventh in total defense and 10th in scoring under the first-year duo of head coach Dan Quinn and D-coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., the Commanders have plummeted to 25th and 22nd in those categories this season. Nevertheless, Quinn said Monday that he won’t make any changes to the defensive staff (via John Keim of ESPN).

Whitt, who calls the plays, will move to the field from the press box in Week 10, Quinn revealed. It remains to be seen whether that will make Whitt’s job any easier against a formidable Detroit offense. He’ll likely have to go without linebacker Frankie Luvu after the NFL issued him a one-game suspension on Monday for hip-drop tackle violations. Luvu is appealing the ruling.

The Commanders will enter the Lions game having dropped three straight contests by at least 21 points. Their most recent lopsided defeat continued a rough start for a pass defense that ranks 29th in the league. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who completed his first 17 passes, saw his MVP odds climb after finishing 21-of-24 for 330 yards and four touchdowns. While the Commanders did intercept Darnold once, they’ve forced just six turnovers this year. Only the Jets and Packers have generated fewer takeaways.

Adding to the Commanders’ adversity during a season loaded with it, cornerback Marshon Lattimore tore his ACL in Week 9. Lattimore, who ranks first among Commanders corners in snaps, will miss the rest of the campaign as a result.

Washington opened 2025 with Lattimore and defensive ends Deatrich Wise and Dorance Armstrong among its starters, but all three have since suffered season-ending injuries. The Commanders’ defensive staff will remain intact, though, and it’ll have to continue to make do with a shorthanded group of players during the last couple months of the season.