The Washington Commanders couldn't gain another memorable road win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, but they kept fighting and remained resolute in the face of stern opposition. That's an undoubted positive to take from a contest they would have been blown out in just a few short months ago.
This week's look at former Commanders players around the league centers on three that general manager Adam Peters let go in the offseason. It's looking more like Washington made the right decisions with this trio.
Let's get to three former Commanders players who struggled to make an impact in Week 6.
All statistics and snap counts are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
The New Orleans Saints were hammered at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Defensive end Chase Young played a part in his team allowing 51 points.
Young was traded for a compensatory third-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers at the 2023 trade deadline. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft didn't last long there, switching to the Saints in free agency.
The Ohio State product only had two tackles on the day and zero total pressures. Baker Mayfield didn't have to worry about him once. Being a non-factor in the pass rush wasn't the end of the frustrating day for Young, as he only had a 61.2 run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus.
Cody Barton signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos after his short stint with the Commanders. He was part of the reason why Washington's defense was one of the league's worst in 2023.
Barton has fared slightly better season with the Broncos thus far, but he's still had some bad performances. The Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was one of those bad performances.
The veteran linebacker had 10 tackles in Week 6. He had a decent game in run defense, but pass coverage is where he struggled. Barton gave up three receptions on as many targets for 66 receiving yards and a touchdown, allowing a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
Antonio Gibson got the starting job at running back for the New England Patriots against the Houston Texans with teammate Rhamondre Stevenson out. Unfortunately, he was not able to seize the opportunity.
Thirteen carries were turned into only 19 rushing yards by Gibson, good for 2.54 yards per carry. That work on the ground did not help out rookie quarterback Drake Maye in his first start of the season.
Gibson also found life difficult in pass protection against a ferocious Texans pass rush, as he earned a 30.9 blocking grade by Pro Football Focus. He earned four targets, catching three of them for 24 receiving yards.
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