The Pittsburgh Steelers' bye week is past, and they have now returned to practice to prepare to face the Washington Commanders in Week 10. The Steelers come into the matchup 6-2, and the Commanders are 7-2. Both teams are having a much better start to their season than anyone expected during the 2024 offseason.
Justin Fields held down the fort while Russell Wilson was recovering from a calf injury. Washington selected quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Commanders franchise has had a complicated history riddled with disorganization and is thrilled to taste success again finally. While Daniels proved to be a talented leader at LSU, no one expected them to get off to such a hot start. This is the first time they have started 7-2 since 1996.
"Trying to make too many plays and not just seeing the offense as what it is," admitted Queen. "I think everybody's seeing a play to be made and stuff. So we just got to go out there, we got to just own our job, do the job to the best of our ability. That starts up front, and starts with linebackers coming downhill and helping our D-line get the double teams off. And after that, if the run gets out to the DBs, the DBs got to show so it's going to take all 11 to stop the run."
The Commanders' second-year running back, Brian Robinson Jr., has been a key contributor to their success so far this season. However, he was ruled out against the Giants with a hamstring injury in Week 9, leaving them to rely on newly elevated Chris Rodriguez and veteran running back, Austin Eckler. The Commanders hope to have Robinson back when they face Pittsburgh, but Daniels and the rest of the offense have proven they can find success without the former Alabama standout.
Daniels is generating buzz around the NFL as a favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Thanks to their success and the fact that the game is in Landover, Maryland, the Commanders are currently 2.5-point favorites. It should prove to be an interesting matchup between two teams whose offenses have been hotter than expected heading into the second half of the season.
Steelers Poised To Have Some Big Names Return
The Steelers have been riddled with injuries through the first half of the season. Some players such as rookie Troy Fautanu, DeMarvin Leal, Nate Herbig, and Cameron Johnston all saw their season come to an end thanks to devastating injuries. While others such as Logan Lee, Cory Trice Jr., Montravius Adams, Tyler Matakevich, and Roman Wilson have been battling injuries of their own.
Now, good news is on the horizon as some of those players are set to return, hopefully as soon as the Washington game. Fields, Cordarrelle Patterson, Nick Herbig, and Zach Frazier have missed time with various injuries.
Patterson, Fields, and Frazier were all back at practice on Monday. Herbig was reportedly suited up, but did not practice -- that is at least progress in the right direction. While it is too early in the week to know who will play, most are hoping Frazier and Herbig, especially, are back for the Baltimore Ravens game.
