The Commanders are getting back a major player on defense who can show enough to impact next season as well
Will Harris is hoping to revive the defense in his return.
The Washington Commanders might be 3-8, but there’s still plenty to watch for in the last six games of the season.
It starts with hosting the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football as they come out of their bye week. The defense looked much improved under head coach Dan Quinn in the last game, and we need to see that carry over. Injuries have derailed the season quickly, including multiple starters for most of the season, but that wasn’t an excuse for the poor performances.
The Commanders are finally getting back safety Will Harris, who can make a difference at the end of the year, but also show that he will be a starter to lean on next season as well.
Will Harris is returning against the Broncos
Harris has been out since he fractured his fibula in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he’s finally making his return down the final stretch of the season.
The secondary has struggled massively throughout the season, and Harris can be a major boost against tough competition over the last six weeks. Both Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. have praised Harris and talked about how his absence hurt the secondary with the lack of communication on plays. Harris is a veteran player who could elevate the secondary around him and give the coaching staff something to watch as they evaluate the roster.
It’s also worth noting that Quinn heavily reduced Quan Martin’s snaps last week, so we will have to see how the rotation works with Harris back. Don’t be surprised if Harris and Darnell Savage are the starting safeties. Quinn knows he needs to chase wins, while also chasing the big picture goal of developing players and evaluating the roster while they still have games.
The defense will get an overhaul this offseason
Quinn will have to find his next defensive coordinator for next season, and whoever comes in will have to lay out their blueprint of what they want and figure out who can play where. Harris can play both safety and corner, and showed early flashes before his injury.
Harris signed a two-year deal to join the Commaders, so he’s still under contract for next season. Being able to hold down one spot as a starter on defense will be a major help for a roster that has a lot of roster needs this offseason. This also doesn’t stop them from upgrading at the position by drafting a player like Caleb Downs with Harris’ versatility. Ending the season with some life and momentum will carry over into next season, and Harris could be a real jolt to the defense.
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