The Washington Commanders didn't get the best possible injury news ahead of their Week 8 Monday Night Football matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. If they had, Jayden Daniels would be opposite Pat Mahomes on the marquee. Instead, that'll be Marcus Mariota.
The Commanders did get the next best possible news, though: Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin will be suiting up. Samuel has missed one game with heel troubles, while McLaurin has missed four games due to a quad issue.
Samuel is the only wide receiver on Washington's roster who's hauled in more than 10 receptions, so McLaurin will be a massive boost. On paper, at least. It's unclear if McLaurin will receive the lion's share of targets from Mariota, just as it's unclear what Samuel's production will look like. The Commanders are not the same dynamic offensive threat going from Daniels to Mariota.
Chiefs DBs Have Major Test Ahead With Positive Commanders Injury News
Kansas City knows it now faces Daniels' two most dangerous skill-position threats in the ESPN spotlight. There is an element of danger in there being limited tape to watch of Mariota and the two top pass-catchers.
Obviously, the Chiefs are catching a major break not having to face the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. But it's still bad luck that the planets aligned with McLaurin and Samuel.
Still, Kansas City's secondary could be up to the test. Assuming Jaylen Watson is good to go after suffering a back injury during the team's 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at home this past Sunday.
Andy Reid Comments on 'Explosive' Commanders
Coach Andy Reid acknowledged that Washington's got "explosive" players on both sides of the ball, who also happen to be coached well by Reid and the coaches he hired. Reid claimed he looks forward to the challenge.
"Look forward to the challenge of playing Washington. And we know they're a good football team, veteran group of players that are good football players, and they've got a head coach that I consider right at the top of his profession at this time. He's as good as anybody, Dan (Quinn). And then he's got good coordinators there. So offensively, defensively, special teams, they've got explosive players. They've got good guys up front, on both sides of the ball," Reid said.
Sure, that's a lot of coach speak, but it's also an honest admission that Reid's team will be going up against a live threat this Monday — even if Daniels will be on the sidelines.