Puka Nacua Presents Latest Challenge for Commanders Secondary

The Washington Commanders secondary has been under the microscope in 2026 -- and deservingly so -- yet there's been reason for optimism in recent weeks.

After giving up routine big plays through the first three weeks of the season through the air, that came against several of the NFL's top wide receivers. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who enters week nine leading the NFL in catches, yards and touchdowns among wide receivers, amassed nearly 130 receiving yards and two scores on ten catches against Washington. That came one week after CeeDee Lamb, now ranked third in the NFL in receiving yards, exploded for 153 yards and two scores on eight catches in Dallas, a game that pushed Washington into its slow start. Malik Nabers, now sitting inside the top ten in receiving yards, recorded his second 100-yard game of the season against Washington's secondary.

Week nine may pose as big a challenge as any the Commanders' secondary has faced with wide receiver Puka Nacua and the Los Angeles Rams headed to Northwest Stadium up next.

After missing weeks two and three with a hip injury, Nacua returned to notch a combined 263 receiving yards and one touchdown on 26 catches -- and 36 targets -- over his next two games. Yet he's been held in check since then, while the Rams are also battling through a notable absence at the position with veteran Davante Adams sidelined long-term.

Nacua has found the endzone in each of the the two games since Adams was placed on injured reserve, while he has drawn over 40% of the targets with quarterback Matthew Stafford leaning on his All-Pro wideout. In the 24-9 win,

Nacua drew nearly half of Stafford's targets, yet how he's utilized is an aspect that Commanders coordinator Daronte Jones is mindful of with the chance for his defense to "swarm and hunt."

"They give him the ball in so many places on the football field, you have to know where he is at all times," Jones said of Nacua. "He's really dangerous once he has the ball in his hands. Sometimes getting him the ball quicker allows him to become more of a running back after he's caught the ball."

Assistant head coach -- and former Washington coordinator -- Kliff Kingsbury will look to gameplan for how to use Nacua to spearhead a Rams offense that enters the matchup ranked inside the top ten across the NFL in passing, total offense and scoring offense.

The return of cornerback Trey Amos has made an instant impact where he's allowed a 33.3 completion percentage through two games, allowing just 32 yards on three catches. The emergence of Amik Robertson paired with late free agent signing Rasul Douglas has mitigated the early season concerns at the position, also partly addressed with Mike Sainristil falling out of the rotation, but how they fare in week nine will determine whether the Commanders can build on the week eight primetime win.