The Washington Commanders will either start the hobbled Jayden Daniels — who suffered a knee sprain last week — or veteran Marcus Mariota at quarterback on Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders.
Las Vegas edge rusher Maxx Crosby could terrorize either of them.
The Raiders’ star defender is a four-time Pro Bowler who has become one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL.
“He is an absolute savage of a player,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said this week. “I love watching him, the energy, the effort, the skill of it. Somebody that I just respect a lot: his game, the way he plays, the style.”
Crosby presents a particular challenge for rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. After a solid performance against the New York Giants in the season opener, the first-round pick struggled mightily against the Green Bay Packers and All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Parsons bull-rushed through Conerly on the play that led to Daniels’ injury against the Packers last week.
Conerly’s job doesn’t get any easier with Crosby and the Raiders coming to Northwest Stadium. The Oregon product doesn’t just have to prevent the defender’s quick-shed moves. He also must hold the line to let routes develop downfield.
Quinn said of Crosby, “His stamina to go hard over and over … I love the first-step quickness and just the absolute dog of a competitor. Sometimes you don’t win on the first move, and you have to stay relentless, and that has absolutely been part of his career.”
Mariota got to know Crosby during his two seasons as a Raider. Washington’s passer knows keeping him out of the backfield is easier said than done.
“Maxx is going to get his; he always has,” Mariota said. “Being around that team for a couple years, you understand that he’s kind of the heart and soul of that team, and he’s going to give it everything he’s got every single play.”
Quinn hasn’t said whether Daniels or Mariota would lead the offense on Sunday. Daniels missed the first two days of practice, and Quinn called him “truly day-to-day.”
The coaching staff plans to make a decision based on Daniels’ performance in practice on Friday.
The offense will be without versatile running back Austin Ekeler, who will miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles’ heel injury. Wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end John Bates — a blocking specialist — could also miss the game with groin injuries.
The assignments aren’t any easier on defense.
The defense has to deal with tight end Brock Bowers, who set the NFL record for receptions by a rookie last year. The Commanders allowed a combined 156 receiving yards to the Packers’ tight ends last week.
And Bowers — a first-team All-Pro as a rookie — is a step above them.
“A dynamic, young tight end that you talk about being one of the best receiving threats. You almost have to treat him like a [wide] receiver,” Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said. “He’s just a dynamic player. I remember watching him at Georgia when he was a freshman and thinking that if he came out, he’d probably be the first tight end to get drafted.”
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith isn’t a slouch, either. Though he tossed three interceptions in Las Vegas’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, the veteran West Virginia product still can stretch opposing defenses.
That aggressiveness could let the Commanders force their first turnover of the season, though.
“We have our work cut out for us this game, but we just need to play our game,” said Whitt, who preaches a “ball is life” approach that emphasizes turnovers. “We play the way that we played the first game. … We just need to clean up our eye discipline and not allow those explosive plays down the field.”
A home game against the 1-1 Raiders is a chance for the Commanders — also 1-1 — to recover after last week’s disappointment in Green Bay. After stewing for a few extra days following the Thursday matchup, the Commanders say they’re ready to rebound.
“I’m sure we’re going to respond the right way,” Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw said. “The energy is right right now; the energy is perfect. It’s where it needs to be at.”
The Raiders-Commanders game kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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