Their bye arrives earlier than it has in recent seasons, with the team receiving its first scheduled weekend off in Week 7. The timing could be valuable as the Commanders work to build consistency and get key players healthy.

They are scheduled to return on Sunday, Nov. 1, when they host the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium in a primetime NFC East matchup. The game is set for 8:20 PM ET on NBC, giving them an immediate divisional test.

Who will the Commanders face after their Week 7 bye?

The Washington Commanders will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 1, in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season. The NFC East rivals are scheduled to meet at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, with kickoff set for 8:20 PM ET.

The matchup will be an important divisional test for them after their Week 7 bye. They opened the season with consecutive road games against Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys before returning home to face the Seattle Seahawks.

Their schedule also includes an international game against the Indianapolis Colts in London, followed by a home matchup against the New York Giants and a Monday night road game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Washington’s meeting with Philadelphia will be the teams’ second matchup in the first eight weeks of the season. Dan Quinn‘s team will look to use the extra preparation time to get ready for a familiar opponent.

What is the Commanders’ record heading into Week 7?

The Washington Commanders entered Week 6 with a 1-3-1 record. Their record through the first five games included one win, three losses and one tie, leaving them fourth in the NFC East at that point in the season.

Their first win came in Week 3, when the Commanders defeated the Seattle Seahawks 33-31. They subsequently lost 30-13 to the Indianapolis Colts in London before tying the New York Giants 27-27 in Week 5.

Key takeaways

• Scheduled Week 7 bye gives Washington Commanders time off on Sunday, October 25.
• Sunday, November 1 marks Washington’s return hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on NBC.
• 1-3-1 record was held by the Commanders heading into their Week 6 game.

The NFL fined San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner twice for hits on Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo during Monday night’s game. The league penalized Warner $47,762 for hitting a defenseless player and an additional $17,911 for leading with his helmet to initiate contact.

Fred Warner could face a one-game suspension if he commits two more hits on defenseless players. He is under the same risk for hip-drop tackles, where a third offense will automatically mean a one-game ban for them.

Malik Mustapha went unpunished

Since Raheem Morris became the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, this unit has been very aggressive and plays at the edge of the rulebook. Safety Malik Mustapha is at the forefront of that. His hits are “clean” according to the rules, but they are fierce and very strong.

Against the Commanders, Mustapha had four tackles and all four of them were almost flag-worthy. Still, the NFL didn’t deem appropriate to fine him after the game. What it’s true is that this unit plays very strong.

Is the 49ers defense good?

The 49ers defense ranks as the fifth-best in the NFL. It’s one of the best units in the whole league. It’s also the fourth-best scoring defense and a big reason why this team is still unbeaten at 6-0.

Key takeaways

• The NFL fined Fred Warner $47,762 and $17,911 for hits on Chig Okonkwo.
• Fred Warner faces a one-game suspension if he commits two more defenseless-player hits.
• The San Francisco 49ers remain unbeaten at 6-0 this NFL season.

In the Bay Area, things appear to be a bit clearer when it comes to the depth chart. The primary backup, if needed, is veteran Mac Jones, while Kurtis Rourke sits further down the pecking order, listed as the emergency quarterback.

For Dan Quinn, the situation changed following Marcus Mariota’s injury. Athan Kaliakmanis moved up to become Daniels’ primary backup, while Colson Yankoff, who typically plays tight end, could serve as the emergency quarterback if needed.

Purdy looks to maintain his MVP-caliber form

Brock Purdy has been absolute money to start the 2026 season, leading the undefeated 49ers to a 5-0 record while putting up major MVP-caliber numbers. Through five games, Purdy has been lethal through the air, throwing for 1,196 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions while completing 69% of his passes and sitting near the top of the league with an elite 119.3 passer rating.

Coming off a gritty divisional win over Seattle where he tossed another two scores, Purdy looks to keep that momentum rolling against a vulnerable Commanders defense. With the way he’s been dissecting secondary coverage, extending plays with his feet, and protecting the football, he’s poised to keep the Shanahan offense firing on all cylinders.

Daniels has taken Commanders’ offense to another level

Getting Jayden Daniels back on the field after his injury scare has instantly raised the ceiling for this Washington offense. Daniels didn’t look like he missed a beat in his return game against the Giants, dissecting the defense for 199 passing yards with a sharp 68% completion rate (17-of-25).

But the real game-changer was his elite dual-threat dynamic—he tore up the ground game with 103 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, including a electric 38-yard house call that completely shifted the energy on the sideline.

Bringing total dual-threat chaos, zero turnovers, and a pristine 91.9 passer rating to the table, Daniels proved that when he’s under center, this unit goes from predictable to nearly impossible to slow down.

Key takeaways

• Athan Kaliakmanis became Washington’s primary backup quarterback following an injury to Marcus Mariota.
• Brock Purdy led San Francisco to a 5-0 start with 1,196 passing yards.
• Jayden Daniels posted 199 passing yards and 103 rushing yards in his return.

The San Francisco 49ers have Mike Evans as their best wideout but Deebo Samuel is out of the game due to a hamstring injury. Hence, the wideout depth chart for this game must vary from the usual. The RB depth charts for 49ers vs Commanders are also determined.

As for the Commanders, the question is whether Stefon Diggs will play or not vs 49ers. However, given that he practiced late in the week, it seems like he will at least try to suit up.

49ers WR depth chart vs Commanders

The 49ers are relying heavily on Mike Evans but the veteran has delivered. He is ageing like fine whine. However, there also needs to be said that this passing offense also uses George Kittle quite a lot, as one of the NFL’s premiere tight ends. This is the WR depth chart for today vs Commanders:

• Mike Evans
• Brandin Cooks
• Jacob Cowing
• Jordan Watkins

Commanders WR depth chart vs 49ers

The Commanders have a veteran core to join rookie Antonio Williams. However, it will all depend on Stefon Diggs’ status to actually evaluate how this offense is going to work. This is the WR depth chart vs 49ers:

• Terry McLaurin
• Stefon Diggs
• Antonio Williams
• Treylon Burks
• Dyami Brown

Deebo Samuel is out with a hamstring injury sustained during Week 5’s win over the Seattle Seahawks. For the time being, head coach Kyle Shanahan said the Niners don’t plan on placing Samuel on Injured Reserve (IR), but the dual-threat wideout is expected to miss a couple of weeks with the latest setback.

According to Shanahan, Samuel was being considered for IR, which would require him to miss at least four games in the 2026 NFL season, but with San Francisco heading into its bye in Week 8, the move may not have made much sense. Against Washington, Deebo will miss his first game of the year, but it certainly won’t be his last.

Samuel’s stats in 2026

Making his return to the Niners in the 2026 NFL season, Samuel has made an immediate impact. So far this season, he’s caught 16 of 20 targets for 206 yards and three touchdowns. His average of 12.9 yards per catch means that whenever Brock Purdy connects with Samuel, the Niners are almost guaranteed to move the chains.

Samuel’s dual-threat ability and shiftiness have also been on full display, as he’s recorded nine carries for 78 yards in 2026. Fumbles have been a bit of an issue, as he has fumbled twice this season, with both coming in his last two games in Weeks 4 and 5.

Samuel to miss revenge game

Hoping to build on his strong start, Samuel now faces the threat of having his momentum derailed by injuries, forcing him to miss the game against his former organization, the Commanders.

Injury bug in San Francisco

With Samuel sidelined, he joins a long list of injured players in Santa Clara. Needless to say, the medical reports coming out of San Francisco’s headquarters do little to quiet the social media buzz surrounding the electrical substation next to the team’s facilities.

As things stand, Samuel is one of five injured wide receivers on the Niners. Christian Kirk, De’Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall round out the list of San Fran’s wideouts on IR. As for the rest of the team, 11 more players are on IR, and it’s only Week 6.

Key takeaways

• Deebo Samuel is ruled out for the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 6 game with a hamstring injury.
• Kyle Shanahan stated the 49ers do not plan on placing Samuel on Injured Reserve.
• Deebo Samuel has recorded 16 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Nick Bosa won’t be playing vs Commanders because he is recovering from a calf injury suffered during a practice warm-up on September 24. This will be Bosa’s fourth-straight absence.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that the 49ers want to make sure Bosa’s calf is fully healed rather than rushing him back prematurely, especially given other injuries on the roster.

When is Nick Bosa returning?

Bosa didn’t practice at all this week as the 49ers prepared to face the Commanders. However, per David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard, Bosa should be eyeing a Week 7 return against the Atlanta Falcons.

A grade 1 mild strain usually takes 1-to-3 weeks to heal. Meanwhile, a grade 2 takes between 3-to-8 weeks. Hence, it’s safe to say that Bosa is dealing with a grade 1 strain that the 49ers are just being too careful with.

Kyle Juszczyk is set to return vs Commanders

The good news for the 49ers is that All Pro full back Kyle Juszczyk is back and will be a part of the roster against the Commanders. He suffered a hyperextended knee against the Denver Broncos.

Key takeaways

• Nick Bosa is ruled out against Washington as he recovers from a calf injury.
• Nick Bosa is reportedly eyeing a Week 7 return against the Atlanta Falcons.
• Fullback Kyle Juszczyk will return to play against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.

The 49ers have one of the best running backs in the NFL with Christian McCaffrey. Also, their head coach and playcaller Kyle Shanahan is clearly a mastermind when it comes to designing runs.

As for the Commanders, starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is out for the game, hence the depth chart must be used in full. However, the rest of the running ensemble is filled with veterans and more pass-catching players rather than pure runners.

49ers RB depth chart vs Commanders

McCaffrey is clearly an elite running back and he is the workhorse of this offense. CMC is averaging 4.7 yards per carry, has 286 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns at this point of the season. He also has 137 receiving yards on 19 catches. This is the 49ers RB depth chart for this game:

• Christian McCaffrey
• Kaelon Black
• Jordan James
• Kyle Juszczyk (full back)

Commanders RB depth chart vs 49ers

The Commanders won’t have Croskey-Merritt, so veterans Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler must take the mantle. However, both of them are more pass-catchers than runners, so the playbook might change a bit for this game. This is the Commanders RB depth chart for this game:

• Rachaad White
• Austin Ekeler
• Jeremy McNichols

Key takeaways

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt is out for Washington’s Week 6 game against San Francisco.
• Christian McCaffrey recorded 286 rushing yards and five touchdowns so far this season.
• Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler must lead Washington’s backfield during Croskey-Merritt’s absence.

Diggs was listed as questionable, though he was able to log in practices late in the week. Hence, the feeling was he could be involved. In fact, the Commanders saw this happen with Terry McLaurin, their other star wideout. And Diggs is no exception.

McLaurin missed a game due to a hamstring injury, but was able to come back a week after that. The Commanders were hoping they could be able to put both of their wideouts on the field alongside star quarterback Jayden Daniels. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Diggs is active to face the Niners on the road.

At full health, the Commanders offense could be unlocked

The whole idea of giving a young quarterback like Daniels a duo of veteran-yet-excellent wideouts is to make life easier for him. McLaurin is an outside-the-numbers, deep threat despite his age. He is very good still, though his injury history has grown quite a lot in recent years.

Diggs is much more of a intermediate-level threat, with prolific routes, and safe hands. Hence, they should provide Daniels with huge upside in any part of the field. Daniels has a very good arm, so when the three are on the field, this should be a very competent offense in the NFL.

Are 49ers a good passing defense?

Diggs and McLaurin could prove to be a tought test. However, the 49ers are excellent. They are the seventh-best passing defense in the NFL right now, and the fourth-best scoring defense.

Hence, it will be a massive test for the Commanders to move the chains against the San Francisco unit. After all, the Commanders have a very deficient running game and their stating RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt is not playing and has been placed on IR, so their best chance is punishing San Francisco by air, even if that’s very tough.

Key takeaways

• Stefon Diggs is active for Washington’s Week 6 game against San Francisco.
• Washington’s Terry McLaurin returned from a hamstring injury after missing one game.
• Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is not playing for Washington against San Francisco.

Otherwise, there are no concerns to be had. Whenever he’s on the field, Evans has been a force to be reckoned with and a key weapon for Brock Purdy and the 49ers to exploit, especially in short-yardage situations, on crucial downs, and in red-zone opportunities.

Entering Week 6’s Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders, the Niners are already without Deebo Samuel. Missing Evans would have been an even tougher blow to San Francisco’s WR depth chart, although the likes of Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle would’ve helped fans forget about the injured talent if they have a strong outing in Santa Clara.

Being affected by the rib injury he sustained in Week 3 of the NFL season, Evans was listed as questionable to play against the Commanders in Week 6. However, he’s now been confirmed active and in full force to face Washington in Monday Night Football.

Evans’ injury update

As reported by ESPN and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Evans is confirmed active for Week 6’s game against the Commanders. Even though the veteran wide receiver didn’t practice throughout the week, he is good to go against Washington.

According to Rapoport, Evans isn’t the only veteran wideout who will be active on Monday Night Football. Although there were questions on whether Stefon Diggs would play or not, the Commanders’ wideout will be active, too.

Evans’ stats

Although he’s been questionable to play ahead of virtually every game this year, Evans has yet to miss a single week of action. And he’s making his outings count.

So far this season, Evans has recorded 24 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns. He’s coming off his best performance of the season, having caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5.

Key takeaways

• San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is active in Week 6.
• Reports varied on whether Evans would play or not, with the majority inclining towards him being active in Week 6.
• Mike Evans has logged 24 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Diggs was forced to miss Week 5 against the New York Giants after failing to practice at all that week. Diggs didn’t practice on Thursday either. However, stepping back onto the field for Friday’s session signals that the veteran playmaker is progressing in the right direction.

The timing of his potential return could not be better for the Commanders, who sit at 1-3-1 and face a high-stakes clash against the San Francisco 49ers on primetime. With one practice remaining before the game, Washington is expected to provide an official update on his status by Saturday.

Impact on the Washington Offense

Having Diggs back in the lineup would provide a massive boost to Washington’s passing attack. Throughout the season, the veteran wideout has recorded 18 receptions for 170 yards and three touchdowns. His ability to stretch defenses and convert in the red zone makes him an essential piece for the Commanders.

Without Diggs in Week 5, the team had to rely heavily on Terry McLaurin and tight end Chig Okonkwo to have the load in the passing game. Reinserting Diggs into the mix restores depth to the receiving corps and alleviates pressure on the rest of the unit, hopefully creating cleaner looks against a tough San Francisco defense.

Diggs and McLaurin are a capable but veteran duo

When both are healthy, Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin form one of the most experienced receiving tandems in the NFL. Diggs brings route-running precision and red-zone production. Meanwhile, McLaurin brings deep-threat ability and leadership to the Commanders offense.

However, the primary concern for this veteran tandem remains durability, as soft-tissue injuries have plagued both receivers in recent weeks. With McLaurin previously missing time due to a hamstring issue and Diggs currently working his way back from the same issue, managing their physical workload is crucial for the Commanders.

Key takeaways

• Stefon Diggs returned to practice Friday after dealing with a lingering hamstring injury.
• Washington sits at 1-3-1 heading into Monday Night Football against San Francisco.
• Stefon Diggs has recorded 18 receptions, 170 yards, and three touchdowns this season.

“Ultimately, like, it’s on me,” Daniels told reporters on Thursday. “At the end of the day, I know [coach Dan Quinn] is getting a lot of slack for it, whatever, you know, but regardless of what happens, I’m the person on the field that’s supposed to calm everything, control everything, and I failed to the standard I hold myself to and the standard in this organization.

“So it’s just something for me to move on. I’m not saying I’m proud of it or anything. Obviously, looking back, like, it could have resulted in a loss, we tied, but it was a fail in my in my eyes and, you know, I know I’m better in that. I hold myself to a higher standard than that. So, moving forward, I’ll grow from and learn from it. And it’ll never happen again,” Daniels concluded.

Commanders failed on multiple levels

While it all ended in a tie, there was a point in that game where the Commanders led the Giants by two scores. The fact that the Giants forced an OT was a good enough reason for critics to pound on the Commanders. The OT clock management debacle was the icing on the cake.

Daniels is right, though. It’s on him to be aware of the clock, the field position, the timeouts available —if any— and how to proceed. He should’ve just spiked the ball and leave time for the field goal unit. Instead, he ran with the ball, took a long time to get up, and then wasted all remaining time before being able to snap it.

Dan Quinn is arguably the lesser to blame

Daniels is undoubtedly the one with the most blame. However, it’s head coach Dan Quinn the one getting stomped on by fans and media. But in fact, Quinn is not even the second guy on the ‘guilty list‘. That should be the offensive coordinator and first-year playcaller, David Blough.

After all, is Blough the one who is communicating with Daniels directly to the headset. Yes, Quinn does have some responsibility in the fact that he is the one who appointed Blough, the veteran, and a good head coach has a sufficiently-disciplined team to avoid this. However, out of the three parts, he is getting the most critics, and has the less responsibility.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels took full personal responsibility for Washington’s Week 5 clock management failure.
• The Washington Commanders blew a two-score lead against the New York Giants before tying.
• Critics targeted head coach Dan Quinn despite quarterback Jayden Daniels holding primary fault.