Commanders' high-priced pickup is quietly proving everyone wrong

When the Washington Commanders fell behind 10-0 to the Los Angeles Chargers, plagued by missed tackles and crushing penalties, it felt like déjà vu for a defense still searching for consistency. That wasn't the case. And there was one big reason why. Javon Kinlaw and the defensive line stepped up, providing much-needed reinforcement to a struggling secondary. Washington held the Chargers scoreless for more than three quarters, and the Commanders' offense, led by returning quarterback Jayden Daniels, put up 27 unanswered points to secure a pivotal win on the road. Criticized in the offseason as “the worst signing of the early free agency period,” Kinlaw continued to stand out as a reliable cog for the defense with another quietly efficient game. Most of his good work doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but it makes a significant impact nonetheless. Although he only finished with four tackles, he was a consistent nuisance for the Chargers' offensive line. In one instance, Kinlaw was double-teamed, but the South