Injured Commanders accentuate the positive on a three-game skid

The Commanders can’t catch a break as injuries continue to pile up for the 3-5 squad.

Monday’s loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City saw foundational pieces like wide receiver Terry McLaurin, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw leave the game early with assorted injuries.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn couldn’t provide any updates on their status on Tuesday. He said the team’s medical staff was still evaluating the injured players. Some were still awaiting the results of scans.

On Monday, Washington was playing without second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is dealing with a hamstring issue, but the injury luck was supposed to be turning around.

The game was McLaurin’s first in a month after a lingering quad injury kept him sidelined. Fellow receiver Deebo Samuel rejoined the lineup after missing a week with a heel injury.

But Tunsil left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring problem. He returned later in the first half but quickly re-exited the game and changed out of his uniform, watching the remainder of the loss from the bench.

McLaurin appeared to reaggravate his quad after making a diving catch on the sideline late in the third quarter.

After unsuccessfully diving toward the feet of a scrambling Patrick Mahomes, Kinlaw writhed on the field after appearing to overextend his shoulder. He did not return, despite his best efforts, Quinn said.

“That was me at the end saying, ’I am going to wait,’” the coach noted after the game. “He was itching to go, for sure.”

The injured Commanders have little time to rest. The team has a short week of preparation before hosting the Seattle Seahawks in primetime on Sunday night.

It’s still unclear if Daniels will be able to join his teammates as the Commanders try to keep their season alive. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year suffered a right hamstring strain during the Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

He was quickly ruled out for Monday’s game and did not practice last week. If Daniels is unable to play on Sunday, backup Marcus Mariota will likely make his fourth start of the season. The veteran has thrown for 639 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions while filling in for Daniels this season.

The Commanders are eager to have their signal-caller back.

“[Daniels] had a good rehab session on Sunday,” Quinn said on Tuesday. “Team’s back out at practice tomorrow, and we plan on him being a part of that.”

The injuries have been a recurring theme for Daniels and the rest of the Commanders throughout their disappointing start to the season. The dual-threat signal-caller sprained his left knee during a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers and missed the next two games.

He returned a few weeks later, sporting a knee brace, before injuring the other leg against Dallas.

After enjoying a relatively injury-free campaign during last season’s run to the NFC championship, the Commanders have regressed to the mean. Washington has already lost key pieces like running back Austin Ekeler and defensive ends Deatrich Wise, Dorance Armstrong and Javontae-Jean Baptiste to season-ending injuries.

Receiver Noah Brown and safety Will Harris, both key contributors despite lacking in name recognition, are also on injured reserve. The Commanders have said they could return later in the year.

Quinn shook his head when asked how he keeps morale high in the locker room on Tuesday — he preferred to focus on how he can instill optimism in an injury-addled squad.

“When you’ve been in these spots, man, you’re digging in together. That’s what you have to do,” he said. “Everybody’s frustrated, obviously disappointed. Those are natural reactions, but the more important thing is, what are you going to do about it?”

The Commanders are in the middle of their toughest stretch of the season. After Sunday’s game against the 5-2 Seahawks, Washington will host the 5-2 Detroit Lions. Quinn’s squad will then travel to Madrid to face the 2-6 Dolphins before returning home for a matchup with the 6-2 Denver Broncos.