Pre-Season Game #2

Pete Wysocki (1948-2003) was a Special Teams force for George Allen and Jack Pardee between 1975 and 1980. He was a master of the “Earhole Block.” Catching an opponent from his blind side Pete would level him. Then he’d relish the tale as the other team “Hooked and Dragged” the player to the sideline. In today’s game he’d be in constant trouble. The League has cracked down on the earhole. But, a controversial block by Frankie Luvu on Detroit’s Quarteback Jared Goff during the Divisional Round game on January 18, 2025 played a significant role in Washington getting the victory. Pete would have been proud.

Washington’s second pre-season game may be the only chance one gets to see Jayden Daniels in game action prior to the first regular season game on September 13. Key word there is “May.” A lot depends on who all is around him. The two Dans, Quinn and Campbell have both said that they will play “…a lot of starters.” That’s a long ways from definitive. Detroit will sit Jerod Goff. Instead they will start Josh Dobbs. If he looks familiar it’s because he’s now on his sixth team after six-years in the League. As for the plan for Daniels, it may be complicated.

Who’s on First?

The general consensus is that this game will be where the team puts most of its first team out on display. Next week features a joint practice with Baltimore before the final pre-season game against them. It’s a safe bet few starters will be on the field for that game. At that point it’s all about keeping everyone out of the Medical Tent.

The complication with Daniels is that old bugaboo; The Center position. Nick Allegretti is the new Center #1 replacing the cut Tyler Biadasz. He strained a Calf muscle on Day #1 of Camp. After healing up he felt tightness in the muscle during the very first day back on the job. The team has been putting Julian Good-Jones in that slot during Camp. It’s conceivable he doesn’t even make the team. Adam Peters drafted Matt Gulbin in the sixth-round of this year’s Draft. Maybe he gets the start today. In either case, does Dan Quinn put Daniels behind either of these two today? Well, we don’t have to wait around long to find out. The game starts at High Noon.

If Daniels starts then McLaurin and Diggs will as well. If not, then don’t expect to see either one.

Do expect to see a lot of Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. The seventh-rounder has a chance to make the team at QB3. His competition is Sam Hartman. He does not have a similar chance. Marcus Mariota needs to heal up quickly.

Injuries

The list of injuries is long. It’s not just a local thing. So far in Training Camp League-Wide we have over 90-players on Injured Reserve. That’s about 4% of the 70-man roster. (53-Active, 17-Practice Squad) Key thing about the Injured Reserve list prior to the first week is that the player is ineligible to return during the season. Once the first Regular Season game is over the Injured Reserve Recall option opens up. So, even with the torn Triceps muscle for Laremy Tunsil he’s not on Injured Reserve. Adam Peters will wait until September 14th for that leaving the door open for his return should he heal quickly.

Johnny Newton underwent Pectoral Muscle surgery this week. He’s in the same boat as Tunsil.

There’s plenty of bumps and bruises and sprains to go around. No one is playing today that’s “Nicked” as Joe Gibbs used to say.

Good Fortune

Washington selected Sonny Styles with Pick #7 of the Draft. Pick #8 was Jordyn Tyson, a Wide Receiver by New Orleans. There were plenty of mock Drafts that had him coming to Washington. After a week of Ron Rivera stories where he picked a lemon right before a real winner was selected we have a reversal of fortune. Styles is green. But, he’s shown plenty of signs to elicit encouragement. Tyson is out for months now with a Hamstring injury. Even though the setback is temporary there is a slight bit of relief being on the plus side of the ledger on one of these.

About that Block

We’ll end where we started; the block on Jared Goff in the Playoff Game. Washington was winning 17-14 in the Second Quarter. Goff airmailed a ball that was intercepted by Quan Martin. Look, that was one awful throw coupled with an even worse decision. Washington’s Edges had gone past Goff leaving him nothing but turf in front of him. The only person out there was his Safety Valve Tight End some 4-yards past the line of scrimmage. The play was 2nd and 14 to go. There was no one near the Safety Valve. He’d have picked up 8 or more yards leaving a manageable Third Down. Instead Goff heaved it into the teeth of a Cover-3 shell. There was one blue uniform surrounded by four white ones. He sailed the ball. Interception. Martin started sprinting toward the End Zone with a full blown convoy of blockers ahead.

Quarterbacks instinctively try to make a play in these cases. They shouldn’t. Jayden Daniels was re-injured attempting to make a tackle. They don’t pay these guys to make tackles. So, Goff tries to get to Martin only to be blocked by Jalyn Holmes. As he starts to disengage Frankie Luvu blasted Goff. It wasn’t a perfect Earhole shot. But, it was a jolt.

Lions fans screamed “Targeting.” Unfortunately for them there is no Targeting foul in the NFL. A player can be ejected for a truly flagrant foul. Joe Bostic leveled Dallas’ Andy Dalton as he was sliding. That got the ejection. This block was not flagrant enough for ejection. Could a flag have been thrown? Sure. Flags get thrown for less. But, this was all happening in a hurry. And, the block was not truly blind side. If they had thrown the flag the ball would have been spotted at the 20-yard line or thereabouts. Washington was going to get points out of it barring the unforeseen. The bigger picture was that Goff was rattled after that. Whether that was a lack of confidence or he was just woozy we don’t know. The Block had an effect.

The league took exception to Frankie Luvu's hit on Jared Goff during Quan Martin's pick-6 return.pic.twitter.com/6kd7kb9WZB https://t.co/7XrWxN0XDa
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 25, 2025

As Ben points out the League’s Kangaroo Court fined Luvu $16,883.00 for the hit calling it “Roughing the Passer.” This RTP thing is curious: If the hit had been on a Running Back would it even have been fined? At full speed, downfield, a player is supposed to ascertain who he blocking? It’s only a matter of time before the League puts QBs in a different-colored jersey like teams do in practice. That jersey means “Don’t hit.” Someday that will be a reality as the game moves farther and farther from its physical roots. Pete Wysocki‘s game has sure changed.

The Week Ahead

There’s a joint practice with Baltimore followed by the pre-season game at 6:00 pm on Friday. That game will be on National TV via the NFL Network. Sunday is Cut Day.

Game Info

WASHINGTON AT DETROIT

Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
Time: 12 Noon
Location: Ford Field

WATCH: TV AND LIVESTREAM

WUSA (CBS/9 – Washington)
WJZ (CBS/13 – Baltimore)
WSOC (ABC/9 – Charlotte)
WTKR (CBS/3 – Norfolk VA)
WRIC (ABC/8 – Richmond VA)
WDBJ (CBS/7 – Roanoke VA)

Broadcasters: Dan Hellie, John Riggins, Brian Mitchell, Bryan Colbert Jr.

Streaming:
Commanders.com or the Commanders app (in market/Canada)
NFL+ (out of market)
NFL Game Pass International (International, excluding China)

Radio: Washington Feed

State	City	Affiliate	Frequency
Delaware	Gerorgetown	Georgetown	94.5 FM
Maryland	Salisbury	WTGM-AM	960 AM
Delaware	Wilmington	WWTX-AM	1290 AM
Virginia	Fredericksburg	WGRQ	95.9 FM
Virginia	Winchester	WFQX	99.3 FM
Virginia	Gloucester	WXGM	99.1 FM
Virginia	Lynchburg	WBRG-FM	105.1 FM
Virginia	Lynchburg	WBRG-AM	1050 AM
Virginia	Lynchburg	WLVA-FM	94.1 FM
Virginia	Lynchburg	WLVA-AM	580 AM
Virginia	Norfolk	WNIS	790 AM
Virginia	Roanoke	WFIR FM	107.3 FM
Virginia	Roanoke	WFIR AM	960 AM
Virginia	Harrisonburg	WKDW	900 AM
Virginia	Richmond	WRXL FM	102.1 FM & 98.5 FM
Virginia	Richmond	WRNL FM	107.3 FM
Virginia	Richmond	WRNL AM	910 AM
Virginia	Harrisonburg	WKCI	970 AM
Virginia	Harrisonburg	WHBG-FM	106.9 FM
Virginia	Harrisonburg	WHBG-AM	1360 AM
West Virginia	Martinsburg	WRNR	740 AM
North Carolina	Gastonia	WGNC-FM	100.7 FM
North Carolina	Gastonia	WGNC-AM	1450 AM
Washington DC	Washington DC	WBIG-FM	100.3 FM
Virginia	Richmond	WRVA-FM	96.1 FM
Virginia	Richmond	WRVA-AM	1140 AM