Is Deebo Samuel playing today? Full injury update for Commanders WR in Week 6

The Washington Commanders are severely depleted in their wide receiver unit heading into Week 6 against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. It could get even worse for head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury if another accomplished pass-caster is unable to participate.

Deebo Samuel Sr. has been on a tear this season. The Commanders believed he still had a lot of good football left. They sent a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers to secure his services, despite all signs pointing to his release. Adam Peters knew what he could bring to the squad with renewed focus, and he's been right on the money so far.

Samuel has been a revelation, stepping into a pivotal role with the explosiveness, physicality, and versatility that saw him reach All-Pro levels once upon a time. This is despite dealing with heel bruising that has limited his practice involvement over the last fortnight.

Commanders face an anxious wait before deciding Deebo Samuel's status in Week 6

The Commanders have taken things extremely cautiously with Samuel, mainly due to Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown being sidelined. Washington officially listed the South Carolina product as questionable for the clash, with Quinn stating that it would be a genuine game-time decision.

That caused significant panic among the fan base. The Commanders have coped without McLaurin and Brown. But if they are also without Samuel, that might be too much to overcome.

Quinn and his staff will probably put Samuel through a pre-game workout before officially determining his status. But according to Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network, the wideout should suit up as the Commanders look to pick up another notable triumph on primetime.

Obviously, nothing is set in stone. The Commanders won't risk him unless they have 100 percent confidence that he can perform as expected and that there will be no long-term damage. He's a tough player, and if Pelissero's report is accurate, having him in the lineup will be a significant boost at a time when injuries threatened to derail Washington's playoff push.

Samuel is a difference-maker who must be accounted for at all times. He's a matchup nightmare in any pre-snap alignment. He can take the shortest completions for significant gains, and his ruthless approach is something his teammates feed off.

It'll still be an anxious wait until something is confirmed one way or another. But the early signs suggest that Samuel will be able to feature, and the Commanders will be much better off for it.