Daily Slop - 22 Sep 24: Johnny Newton game status update; Kingsbury commits to getting Terry McLaurin more involved

Commanders linksCommanders.com Five keys to Washington getting a primetime win over Cincinnati

Like the rest of the Bengals' offense, Burrow's performance through two games can be misleading. He's around the middle of the league in passing yards (422) with a 15th-ranked QBR (56.5). Burrow's health prevented him from putting up gaudy numbers in 2023, but he's still the quarterback who led the league in completion rate in 2021 and had back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. So, don't get it twisted; Burrow is going to be a problem for Commanders on Monday.

Although the Bengals have done a better job of protecting Burrow on the offensive line, he is still under more pressure than the team would like, as he has been sacked six times. Five of those sacks have come on third down, so if the Commanders can get a spark from their pass-rush, the opportunity to get Burrow off the field will be there.

However, the Commanders are still searching for that level of production. Their pass-rushers certainly done a good job of winning their matchups, as their collective pass-rush win rate of 45% ranks 11th in the NFL, but they're currently tied for last with just two sacks. Like the offense, finishing plays has been a problem for the unit, which is partly due to the players still developing chemistry together.

Getting to Burrow won't be easy, as their offensive line ranks fifth in pass-block win rate, but if the Commanders can at least speed up his process, it could be enough to keep the Cincinnati offense sputtering to start the year.

Riggo's Rag Commanders set to give Johnny Newton a bigger workload in Week 3 Quinn stated during his recent media availability that Newton came out of the contest unscathed. The Commanders are still managing the player's practice involvement throughout the week, which is understandable in the circumstances. However, the head coach hinted that the explosive interior presence is on track to see more involvement with the national spotlight glaring.

Expecting miracles from Newton is unwise. He's still getting up to speed and finding his football legs after so long away from the gridiron. The Commanders will pick and choose their spots with the rookie. But he could be a useful asset in obvious pass-rushing situations when it's all said and done.

It's all hand on deck for the Commanders as they embark on a difficult stretch of fixtures over the next month. Coming out on the other side positively is crucial. The more reps Newton can generate, the better their chances will be.

Pro Football Talk Clelin Ferrell is out for Commanders Monday night Defensive end Clelin Ferrell has the only two sacks of the season for the Commanders through the first two weeks of the season, but someone else is going to have to step up if the Commanders are going to drop Joe Burrow on Monday night.

Ferrell has been ruled out of the Commanders' lineup for their road game in Cincinnati. Ferrell missed practice on Thursday and Saturday with a knee injury, but he was able to work on a limited basis on Friday.

Jamin Davis, Jer'Zhan Newton, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste are the defensive end options on the active roster.

Commanders Wire Kingsbury discusses Terry McLaurin, Commanders' passing game Since coming to Washington in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, McLaurin has not only led Washington in receiving but has also gained 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last four NFL seasons (2020-23).

Thirty-nine receiving yards for Terry McLaurin? It's not like the quarterback is injured and unable to throw. Jayden Daniels has completed 40 passes for 410 yards, which averages 20 completions for 205 passing yards a game.

Thirty-nine receiving yards in two games for McLaurin is tough to imagine, even more to swallow. It has come on eight receptions, which means McLaurin is averaging a paltry 4.9 yards a reception. Re-read that: 4.9 yards is not a carry but a reception.

Kingsbury responded, "That's my job to find ways to answer that. So far, I haven't done a great job of it. For me and the staff we have to be better moving forward."

That was Kingsbury in public, taking the blame on himself. In private, you know he has shown Daniels how he has missed McLaurin being open for some big plays as these two shown here.

Sports Illustrated Commanders Kliff Kingsbury Next Gators Head Coach? The Washington Commanders offensive coordinator looks to be a top candidate for the Florida Gators' next head coach.

Kingsbury's name is already popping up in the rumor mill as a potential candidate for head coaching jobs. In a recent development , Kingsbury's name has been mentioned as a top candidate for the Florida Gators head coaching job if, or when, their current head coach Billy Napier is fired or let go.

The firing of Napier seems to be imminent at this point, it is just a matter of when it will happen as there is no obvious replacement for Napier on the current staff and so it looks likely that the decision could come towards the end of the season.

It is easy to see why Kingsbury's name would be floated about for a job like that of the University of Florida. He still is young and has a creative offensive mindset that makes it hard to stop. Kingsbury has also had the majority of his success at the collegiate level, not so much in the NFL.

However, it is hard to imagine that Kingsbury would leave his current situation getting to coach Jayden Daniels and having full autonomy over the offense and how it operates to help build the organization back to where it should be. Not to mention, the college game has changed drastically since Kingsbury headed a program and it remains to be seen if he would be willing to deal with the beasts of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness - as we have seen a handful of collegiate coaches leave for NFL opportunities due to these challenges.

Upcoming opponentCincy Jungle Are you ready for some football?

Stop the Run The Bengals have struggled to stop the run and that will be particularly important this week. Commanders running back Brain Robinson Jr has rushed for 173 yards this season and is the driving force behind their offensive success. The Bengals defensive interior remains banged -up, so stopping Robinson will not be easy.

Contain the QB Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has also had well over 100 rushing yards this season. Keeping him in the pocket and not allowing him to extend plays with his feet will be key to stopping this offense.

Bengals vs. Commanders: 5 matchups to watch Here are a few matchups that could decide the outcome of the Bengals' Week 3 Monday Night Football game at home against the Commanders.

Trey Hendrickson/Sam Hubbard vs. Jayden Daniels Burrow is a top-three quarterback in the NFL, but there is one thing Daniels does better, and that's run the ball. Don't get me wrong, Burrow can run if he needs to, but his main weapons are his arm and brain. Daniels' main weapon, at least right now, is his legs.

Daniels is an explosive runner and has carried the ball 26 times for 132 yards (5.1 YPC) and two touchdowns. The key to beating a team with an explosive offense is to run the ball, let the clock run, and keep that opposing quarterback on the bench where he can't hurt you. That's what the Commanders are going to try to do.

It's going to be the defensive ends' responsibility to keep Daniels in the pocket. Hopefully, when he steps up, there's someone there. If Daniels is able to escape the pocket consistently, he can punish the Bengals defense. They need Hendrickson and Hubbard, as well as the other edge rushers on the team, to keep Daniels in the pocket. Containment is the name of the game on Monday night.

Bengals defensive tackles vs. Brian Robinson Jr. The Bengals' biggest weakness right now is their ability to stop the run. Now they enter Week 3 with both starting defensive tackles dealing with hamstring injuries. Robinson is a powerful downhill runner. He's averaging six yards per carry, and he carries the ball right up the middle about 44 percent of the time.

It's currently unclear as to whether or not BJ Hill will be able to play, but Sheldon Rankins has already been ruled out. That leaves Zack Carter, Jay Tufele, rookie Kris Jenkins, who is making his debut, Lawrence Guy, and possibly Domenique Davis, if the Bengals activate him off the practice squad.

The Commanders offense is going to look to pound the ball up the middle, and the Bengals' defensive interior needs to be ready to play.

NFL.com Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) off injury report, set to play vs. Commanders on Monday night Joe Burrow will have his full arsenal at wide receiver for the first time this season on Monday night.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins, who was ruled out of the first two games with a hamstring injury, is off the injury report and is set to play versus the Washington Commanders.

Higgins indicated this week he was "ready to go" after returning to practice for the first time since suffering the injury.

"That's my plan," Higgins said Friday, via the team's official website . "Practice went really well. Got in a lot of plays, so I felt good out there."

Higgins injured his hamstring during practice just ahead of the season opener. Burrow and Co. proceeded to struggle in Week 1, gaining just 224 total yards of offense in a disappointing 16-10 loss at home against the New England Patriots.

Podcasts & videos Brian Robinson Jr + Rick 'Doc' Walker + Matthew Berry on MNF | Next Man Up | Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels Week 2 vs the Giants 2024 Analysis Can Washington Commanders' Benjamin St-Juste Stop Bengals Ja'Marr Chase?NFC East linksBleeding Green Nation Eagles Film Room: Concept of the Week - GH Counter Here's a simple diagram of GH Counter from Casey Sully .

The running back usually has to take slow steps (sometimes called counter steps) because they cannot beat the second-pulling lineman to the hole, or the play won't work. They also have to follow their blocks carefully and not bounce it outside. Counter is often a great play against teams that like to run a lot of 5-man fronts because there is less of a need for offensive linemen to get to the second level.

This week, the Eagles ran GH Counter, with the H-back coming across after a short motion. We see this a lot around the league, so I was excited when I saw this play run. It feels like Kellen Moore is the kind of offensive coordinator who looks around the league at what other teams are running. Here's the play!

I particularly love watching Mekhi Becton toss the defensive lineman out the way to create a gap. He has been exceptionally good at this type of down block this year as he has the strength to move big defensive lineman without the help of another lineman. And there is nothing cooler than seeing Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson combing for a pancake. Lastly, I think Saquon Barkley has looked really good in gap scheme runs, as they can remove the need to read his blocks, which allows him to focus on making defenders miss.

Blogging the Boys Week 3 rooting guide for Cowboys fans Saints over Eagles Cheering for New Orleans won't feel good after what they just did to the Cowboys, but watching them do it to Philadelphia will help. While the win would put the Saints to 3-0 and with serious momentum in the conference, Dallas just needs to worry about winning the NFC East for now. The Eagles remain our biggest obstacle to that goal, so every loss they take is a positive.

Commanders over Bengals This is a big-picture pick. Washington does currently have the lead in the NFC East, tied with Dallas and Philadelphia at 1-1 and owning the only division win right now after beating the Giants. But do we really believe that the Commanders will be contending by December? Their temporary lead will evaporate with time, and meanwhile, we don't want them getting too high of a draft pick. So sure, let them have this one.

Browns over Giants Given what we just said about the Commanders and the 2025 draft, why wouldn't the same logic apply here? Well, in this case, New York is the Cowboys' opponent in Week 4. So do you want the Giants and their fans feeling demoralized at 0-3 or getting a boost from their first win, which would then be amplified by a home game against their hated division rivals from Dallas? The first scenario feels far more inviting for the Cowboys.

NFL league linksPro Football Talk Steelers rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu out at least four weeks with knee injury An injury on the practice field will cost Steelers rookie right tackle Troy Fautanu at least four weeks.

The Steelers have announced that Fautanu is being placed on injured reserve, which means he has to miss at least the next four weeks.

Fautanu injured his knee at practice on Friday. Initially the Steelers listed him as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, but the injury may be more serious than the team first realized.