The Washington Commanders stepped into the NFL’s first Thursday Night Football game of the season full of hope, only to see those hopes crash under relentless pressure. Dan Quinn’s defense completely dominated, holding Washington to a mere 230 total yards while Green Bay racked up 404 yards of their own. The 27-18 final score didn’t tell the whole story, as injuries piled up on both sides in what turned into a physical, bruising battle at Lambeau Field.

In the post-game, Washington’s head coach Dan Quinn pointed straight to injuries as one of the key reasons for the loss. He didn’t hold back, saying, “Just starting off, just tough night, honestly, from an injury standpoint and in game.” Quinn also promised to give more clarity on the situation come Monday.

First, Deatrich Wise Jr., the Commanders’ defensive end, limped off in the second quarter after suffering a quad injury. The moment came during an extra-point attempt when Packers tackle Anthony Belton accidentally fell back on Wise’s right leg. The whole Commanders bench gathered around as the 31-year-old Wise was carted off, sidelined for the rest of the game. To make matters worse, veteran running back Austin Ekeler also left late in the fourth quarter after a non-contact injury. He later ruled out with an Achilles injury.

On top of that, the Commanders never found their rhythm in the running game. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Austin Ekeler, and Daniels combined for just 51 rushing yards. Dan Quinn didn’t sugarcoat it, adding, “Overall tough night in terms of style and attitude of how we want to play, identity, we just missed the mark on those.” Clearly, Washington couldn’t match the Packers’ pace or physicality.

However, injuries didn’t just plague Washington. The Packers also lost Jayden Reed early in the first quarter. Reed, who had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown in the previous week’s win over the Lions, left clutching his collarbone. The Packers later confirmed Reed suffered a shoulder injury after struggling to walk down the Lambeau tunnel. Both teams now face long injury lists to sort out before the next matchup. However, apart from injury, what went wrong for Dan Quinn’s team?

Dan Quinn’s Commanders struggled on all fronts

The Washington Commanders couldn’t have asked for a tougher night in Green Bay. After last week’s passing struggles, many thought it was just early-season rust. But against the Packers’ elite defense, it was a full-on wake-up call. Green Bay dialed up pressure on nearly half of Jayden Daniels’ dropbacks—24 out of 52 attempts. The speed and movement of the Packers’ defense kept the Commanders’ offense guessing all night. Micah Parsons led the charge, reminding everyone why this unit is considered top-tier.

And Jayden Daniels struggled to find any rhythm, finishing with only 200 passing yards and constantly under fire. His dropbacks and scrambles turned into a battle against relentless defenders, leaving him rattled. Meanwhile, the run game completely stalled, putting up just 51 yards compared to the 220 they managed last week. But to be fair, the Packers’ defense deserves credit for shutting it down so effectively.

At the same time, the Commanders’ defense looked nothing like the unit that shined last week. The quick turnaround seemed too much, and players appeared exhausted trying to cover motion plays and crossing routes. Jordan Love made them pay, throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Tucker Kraft racked up a career-high six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown—averaging over 20 yards per catch. That left Dan Quinn visibly frustrated after watching his defense fail to hold strong.

Finally, Josh Jacobs did his best to carry the ground game, racking up 84 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. It’s clear the Commanders need this long break before facing the Raiders at home on September 21st.