The Washington Commanders are reeling after two brutal injuries to key starters Austin Ekeler and Deatrich Wise Jr. Both went down in Thursday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. That leaves Coach Dan Quinn and the team scrambling for answers. Wise was sidelined with a right quadriceps injury and will miss the rest of the 2025 season after surgery. Meanwhile, running back Austin Ekeler is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles tendon. It happened in a non-contact incident, and the MRI confirmed he is also out for the season.

With those losses looming large, the Commanders have made two roster moves, re-signing TE Lawrence Cager to the practice squad and releasing P Mitch Wishnowsky. Cager’s been around the league since 2020. Hopping from the Jets to the Browns, back to the Jets, then the Giants, before landing in Washington this year. His career numbers don’t jump off the page: 21 games, 19 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns. But right now, his presence adds necessary depth as the Commanders deal with a mounting injury crisis.

Wise’s injury happened on a crushing play. A Packers lineman fell on his leg after an extra point, forcing him off the field, visibly shaken. He was surrounded by teammates showing support before leaving on a cart. Wise took to Instagram the next day. He posted, “God only puts us through what we can handle, and every challenge carries a lesson.” On offense, Ekeler’s Achilles tear hits hard, given his role as quarterback Jayden Daniels’ reliable outlet and third-down weapon. Veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel summed up the mood plainly: “That kind of takes the fight out of you a little bit. You know all the work they put in all summer long. Just to see them go down, it kind of hurt.”

Dan Quinn now faces a cataclysmic depth problem going forward. With veteran production lost, younger backs like Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Jeremy McNichols will be counted on to step up. The Commanders also dealt with injuries to tight end John Bates, wide receiver Noah Brown, and others in the 27-18 loss to the Packers. Quinn acknowledged the toll injuries took on the team’s efforts and promised more updates in his upcoming press conference.

Daniels acknowledged the struggle ahead but kept it real: “We’ve got guys that have got to step up and are more than capable of stepping up. But it’s always tough losing veteran players.” Even Daniels faced an injury scare himself during the game. But the Packers didn’t stop with injuring starters; they took advantage of Commander’s offensive line, especially on the right side.

Challenges faced by Dan Quinn’s Commanders

Guard Nick Allegretti and rookie tackle Josh Conerly Jr. couldn’t handle Green Bay’s speed and ferocity. Daniels was pressured on a career-high 25 of 51 dropbacks, almost half the time. And the Packers blitzed him 12 times, generating seven pressures and two sacks. Daniels, known as a mobile quarterback, was hobbled, too. He ran no designed plays and managed only 17 yards on scrambles. “They just did a good job of their scheme,” Daniels said. “Whatever their defense coordinator had them do, they executed very well, and that is it.”

Packers quarterback Jordan Love noticed the weakness and described the game plan: “We had some opportunities to run by them and take some big shots…But it all just comes down to playing off of what the defense is giving us and trying to take advantage when we get a favorable coverage or matchup on some of the plays we’ve got called.” Needless to say, Matt LaFleur was more than happy with how his team exploited those chances.

The stark contrast in explosive plays told the story. Washington had only two, its lowest since Daniels entered the league. The Packers tallied nine. Including four by tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, who combined for 156 yards and a touchdown. The Commanders’ challenges now pile up, testing Dan Quinn’s ability to adapt on the fly. With just a few days until their Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the pressure is on.