Commanders add sideline coach for Eagles game after 1-4-1 start

The Washington Commanders will add a sideline coach to their staff for Sunday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. Steve Wilks, the former New York Jets defensive coordinator, will wear a headset and move along the sideline during the game. Head coach Dan Quinn announced the change on Friday. Quinn said the move was intended to provide an extra set of eyes on the field.

Washington sits at 1-4-1 this season. The defense has allowed 28.7 points per game, ranking 31st in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones reversed roles among his assistants this week. Coaches responsible for pass defense were assigned to evaluate the run game, and vice versa. Jones described the swap as a way to get a fresh perspective. He noted that the staff tweaked the scheme based on feedback from those assistants.

Wilks was originally scheduled to help with game planning early in the week only. Quinn said he and Jones discussed bringing Wilks in during training camp but did not finalize the arrangement until two weeks ago. Wilks also works with the Appalachian State program. Quinn stated that Wilks will not be on the sideline for every game. He called the addition a minor adjustment rather than a major structural change.

The Commanders are missing their top wide receiver. Terry McLaurin was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday. The 31-year-old tore his patellar tendon in the Week 6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He will not return this season. McLaurin recorded 15 catches for 230 yards and one touchdown in five games. Quinn said the team will increase touches for rookie Antonio Williams. Veteran Van Jefferson was activated from the practice squad.

Stefon Diggs, the team's secondary receiver, is reducing his practice workload. The 32-year-old Pro Bowler will skip Wednesday practices for the remainder of the season to stay healthy. Quinn said the team is not necessarily shifting all targets to Diggs. He indicated that Williams is the natural option for a higher volume of snaps.

The Eagles are 2-5 and have lost five consecutive games. They will play without quarterback Jalen Hurts for the rest of the season. Philadelphia has a long injury report. Fans have called for head coach Nick Sirianni to be fired. The Commanders are winless in the NFC East. The Eagles have one divisional win this year, which came against Washington in Week 1. Quinn has kept his job for now because the team remains in the divisional race. If Washington does not win Sunday, questions about his position will likely increase.

The game is scheduled for Sunday evening. The Eagles need a victory to stay competitive in their division. The Commanders need a win to secure their first divisional point of the year.