By Adam Aniba
Washington received encouraging news that second year cornerback Benjamin St-Juste was progressing with his rehab, after spraining his ankle in week 11.
The final injury report of the week, listed BSJ as questionable for the pivotal Sunday Night Football matchup vs the Giants. Although the cornerback was listed as a limited practice participant all week, seeing him running drills on Thursday was a big step for the cornerback to play this Sunday.
The storyline in the last matchup vs New York was quarterback Daniel Jones, who ran roughshod on the Commanders defense. The former Duke signal caller, scrambled for 71 yards on 12 attempts with a 5.9 yard per carry average. The forgotten man in the matchup was Giants receiver Darius Slayton, who recorded 6 receptions for 90 receiving yards on 8 targets.
Although Slayton didn't record a TD reception in the 20-20 tie, his 15.0 per reception average kept Del Rio's defense on their toes.
Not having BSJ available certainly affected how aggressive Del Rio's defense could be. The second year cornerback's ability in coverage is only half the story, as he is also a vital piece in their run defense.
Washington's playoff chances will shoot up to 92% with a win vs New York per ESPN Analytics, but would drop to 42% with a loss.
It can't be overstated enough how vital St-Juste is for this pivotal NFC East matchup. Having him on the field will allow them to zero in on Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, leading to more pressures and turnovers for Washington's defense.
**Also CLICK Below for our 2023 NFL Draft Player Card Scouting Reports**
Comentarios