The Washington Commanders have been hit with a massive setback ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. The team officially ruled out wide receiver Deebo Samuel after he failed to travel with the squad to Dallas due to lingering hamstring issues.
That announcement comes on top of the already-confirmed absence of Terry McLaurin, leaving the Commanders without their two biggest offensive weapons in what many viewed as a crucial NFC East matchup.
NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Saturday morning that Samuel was downgraded to out following limited practices throughout the week. The team initially listed him as “questionable,” but head coach Dan Quinn (hypothetical if coaching) clarified that the star receiver “wasn’t able to meet the physical threshold to compete at full speed.”
“Deebo wanted to go,” said one team source. “But the risk of re-aggravation was too high. The staff made the tough call to hold him out.”
Without Samuel and McLaurin, Washington’s offense suddenly looks thin heading into AT&T Stadium. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will now have to rely heavily on second-year wideout Jahan Dotson and tight end Logan Thomas to keep pace with a red-hot Cowboys defense led by Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs.
Analysts say this could drastically change the Commanders’ game plan, shifting emphasis toward the running game with Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson to control the clock and limit turnovers.
Fans were quick to react online, many expressing concern that the offense may struggle to generate big plays without its top two targets. “No Deebo. No Terry. No chance?” one fan posted on X.
Still, others remain optimistic, pointing to the opportunity for young players to step up and make a statement against a division rival.
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET — but one thing’s for sure: the Commanders will need more than heart to survive this trip to Dallas.
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