Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages

Commanders won’t be sleeping easy after ominous Cowboys injury update

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Oct 15, 2025 5:00 PM ET

Dan Quinn won't want to be humiliated for the second time this season against one of his old employers. The Washington Commanders face the Dallas Cowboys on a short week, and there is a significant development worth monitoring that could give the head coach sleepless nights.

The Commanders are dealing with health issues. There was some good news amid the turmoil, with wide receiver Terry McLaurin returning to practice ahead of a possible return after a three-game absence. That will be crucial, especially with Noah Brown going to injured reserve.

That's a massive plus at the perfect time. However, the Cowboys also have an ace up their sleeve if recent reports are any indication.

Commanders will have more than one prolific wide receiver to counteract versus the Cowboys

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that, among others, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb would be at practice. The four-time Pro Bowler has been missing since hobbling off the field in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears. Dallas' offense has still put up substantial yardage and points thanks to Dak Prescott and George Pickens, but the former Oklahoma standout remains the alpha dog.

Good news for the Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb, KaVontae Turpin and Tyler Booker are all expected to practice today, per Brian Schottenheimer.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) October 15, 2025

Considering the Commanders are having some defensive frailties, this is the last thing that Quinn wanted to see. Lamb and Pickens are among the most devastating wideout tandems anywhere in the league. Washington has Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, and Mike Sainristil to counteract this threat, but only the second-round rookie could be classed as consistent this season so far.

The Commanders will prepare as if Lamb is going to play a leading role. He's accumulated 54 receptions from 76 targets for 515 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 10 games against Washington. Facing a legitimate threat in Pickens will only heighten the challenges for Quinn, so he'll need to draw on his experience and prior knowledge of working with the player to give his squad a fighting chance.

Offensive lineman Tyler Booker and dynamic playmaker KaVontae Turpin are also back on the practice field. Dallas' league-leading offense is only getting stronger, and that's a big-time headache for the Commanders during what has quickly become a crossroads contest.

Lamb is a difference-maker. He's one of the few receivers who could flip the narrative of any game almost single-handedly. Nobody will know that more than Quinn, so finding the correct solutions to this clear danger cannot be overstated.

The Commanders are focusing on what they can control. But deep down, Quinn probably grimaced at the thought of coming up against Lamb with the stakes higher than ever.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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