The Washington Commanders sit at the bottom of the NFC East at 1-4-1. Now, Washington faces a choice: can it correct its mistakes and make a run at a winnable division? Or will the Commanders continue down the same path and finish with another disappointing season? The choice is theirs.

For Washington to turn their season around, accountability must extend beyond the team's top stars. Three underperforming veterans must step up to help get Washington back on track. Let's take a closer look.

Veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne has had a disappointing season, particularly given that he is in the final year of his contract.

The former 2018 first-round draft pick signed a four-year, $90 million extension with the Commanders in March 2023, but his overall production has regressed each year since. In 2023 and 2024, Payne finished with four sacks in consecutive seasons; however, after logging two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2023, he produced none in 2024. He followed that up with just three sacks in 2025 and has managed only one sack through six games this season.

Additionally, Payne has logged just 14 total tackles through six games, putting him on pace for around 40 tackles, which would mark another career low.

As a nine-year NFL veteran and the highest-paid player on the Commanders' roster, this level of production is simply unacceptable for someone occupying such a substantial portion of the salary cap. With Payne’s name floating around as a potential trade candidate, stepping up his performance over the coming weeks is critical, not only to help the defense, but also to increase his trade value ahead of the deadline, especially considering he is unlikely to return when he hits free agency in 2027.

With running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt placed on Injured Reserve, Rachaad White needs to step up in a major way, and so far, he simply has not.

Through five games, White has managed just 145 yards on 36 carries (4.0 yards per carry) with no rushing touchdowns, alongside just 83 receiving yards. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer was brought to Washington to serve as a reliable dual-threat out of the backfield, but his impact in the passing game has waned over time. After averaging 8.6 yards per reception in 2023 and 7.7 in 2024, his efficiency dropped to just 5.4 yards per catch last season.

The offensive backfield struggles have been noticeable enough that the Commanders even brought back Austin Ekeler to help patch up the unit's depth. While it is fair to acknowledge that White has been toughing it out through a shoulder injury, the expectation for a fifth-year veteran of his talent level remains much higher.

Ultimately, White has no choice but to elevate his game: with the depth chart stretched thin, he is currently Washington's RB1.

With Terry McLaurin sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Commanders desperately need more production from the depth of their wide receiver room. Dyami Brown seemed like a prime candidate to flourish upon returning to Washington, especially given his past chemistry with Jayden Daniels during Daniels' rookie campaign, but his performance has been anything but encouraging.

Through six games this season, Brown has logged just nine catches for 94 yards. To put that in perspective, he has only 11 more receiving yards than running back Rachaad White, a glaring issue when a backfield player can nearly match a wide receiver's production.

Combine that with his persistent fumbling issues, and the concern grows. Brown has already fumbled twice this year. It is a troubling pattern that recalls his crucial fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 NFC Championship game.

With 11 games remaining on the schedule, Brown still has time to redeem himself and make up for lost opportunities. Washington will need him to step up, because behind Diggs, Antonio Williams, and Treylon Burks, who was shaken up late in the San Francisco 49ers game when he couldn't haul in the potential game-tying catch, the receiver depth chart looks thin.

Ultimately, the Commanders find themselves at a crossroads six games into the season. While franchise cornerstones like Jayden Daniels continue to give Washington a fighting chance, a football team cannot rely solely on a handful of star players to carry the load. If the Commanders hope to salvage their 2026 season and make noise in a very open NFC East, they need urgency and execution across the board. Whether it is Payne reclaiming his dominant form along the defensive front, White stabilizing the backfield efficiency, or Brown seizing his opportunity, these veterans must elevate their play immediately.