Commanders vs. Eagles: 3 things to watch, including a new coach on the sideline

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ASHBURN, Va. — The bye week is a good time for reflection.

With the Commanders defense surrendering 28.7 points per game (31st in the NFL) and the team at 1-4-1, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones decided to swap staffers’ roles. Coaches in charge of the pass defense were told to evaluate the run defense and vice versa.

“Fresh set of eyes,” he said.

Any and all suggestions were welcome.

Jones and his staff are trying everything to keep the Commanders’ season afloat.

If Washington can’t get a win Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team without its star quarterback and a bevy of other starters, then there just might be no fixing this organization’s woes this year.

But at least for now, Jones said he thinks the role reversal worked. He took feedback from his assistants and tweaked the scheme — details were sparse — and he believes the unit will get more stops.

Here are three things to watch as the Eagles come to town for “Sunday Night Football.”

A new addition, with some confusion

Washington brought in Steve Wilks, a former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers, to assist in defensive game planning. Head coach Dan Quinn said Wilks’ duties would be centered on game planning early in the week.

“To have him with us and coaching on the early part of the weeks, I thought that just made too much sense,” Quinn said.

Wilks, who most recently served as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets, was initially not going to be part of the game-day staff.

But on Thursday, it was revealed that Wilks will wear a headset and roam the sidelines against the Eagles. He will not be there every game, Quinn said.

“Just another set of eyes,” Quinn said Friday. “Not something too significant.”

Quinn said he and Jones had talked about bringing Wilks in during training camp, but they didn’t get around to it until two weeks ago. Wilks has other gigs, including helping out with Appalachian State’s program.

Down a captain

The Commanders placed top wide receiver Terry McLaurin on injured reserve Wednesday, and he won’t return this season.

McLaurin, 31, tore his patellar tendon in the team’s Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He has 15 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown in five games.

Quinn said they won’t necessarily give more targets to Stefon Diggs, the secondary option in the offense. Instead, they will look to get rookie Antonio Williams more touches in McLaurin’s absence. The team also activated veteran Van Jefferson off the practice squad.

“I would say the natural progression is probably Antonio [getting] more,” Quinn said. “Not necessarily the same spot as [McLaurin], but a higher volume.”

Another thing to monitor: Diggs is officially trying to taper his practice reps for the rest of the year. Quinn said the 32-year-old Pro Bowler will not practice on Wednesdays for the rest of the season as he tries to stay healthy.

An opponent with worse mojo

Few teams are in more of a meltdown than the Commanders, but the Eagles (2-5) may be one of them.

Philadelphia has lost five straight and won’t have quarterback Jalen Hurts for the rest of the season. The team’s injury report continues to be lengthy. Fans have already called for head coach Nick Sirianni’s job.

The Commanders are currently winless in the NFC East, and this wounded Eagles team is their best bet to pick up a divisional victory. The Eagles have one win in the division, in Week 1 against the Commanders, and need this game to stay in the race.

For now, Quinn has fended off calls for his ouster, in part because the Commanders are still in the divisional race. If they can’t take advantage of this favorable matchup, his job security will come into question once more.