The Washington Commanders lost starting defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. two weeks into the 2025 season. His primary backup, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, was gone two weeks later. Then, by the middle of October, the Commanders’ best edge threat, Dorance Armstrong Jr., saw his breakout campaign end.
Washington had a suspect defensive front to begin with. Those injuries were simply too much for them to overcome.
In the second half of the season, Dan Quinn's defense featured a couple of players in their mid-30s — Von Miller and Preston Smith — as well as an undersized hybrid linebacker — Jacob Martin — taking most of the snaps at defensive end.