There’s no question Dan Quinn’s days with the Washington Commanders are numbered, but he hasn’t been shown the exit just yet.
The Commanders have a 1-4-1 record heading into their bye this weekend. They had a golden opportunity to beat the New York Giants in Week 5, but Jayden Daniels accidentally took a sack to end the game in overtime with the score tied 27-27. One week later, the Commanders had yet another clock management fiasco against the San Francisco 49ers.
It seemed like Quinn lost track of downs during the second quarter, as the Commanders went for it on fourth-and-2 from the 49ers’ 13-yard line. However, he told reporters that wasn’t the case.
“No, I definitely knew it was fourth down,” Quinn said. “We were going for it, and I was — I think what you’re referring to, I was probably saying like, with the illegal shift, there’s not a penalty to go for a field goal. Like, it doesn’t go, like — it’s the turn on downs. I think somebody had asked me, ‘Can we kick a field goal?’ So, no, we were going for it. We knew we had to go for some fourth downs to be bold in the game. “
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images.
Commanders fans thought there was a chance Quinn would be fired after Monday’s loss to the 49ers, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said a coaching change won’t be made just yet.
“It’s clear he did not lose the locker room. Josh Harris doesn’t like firing a coach mid-season,” Rapoport said. “It seems like based on this effort on the field, Dan Quinn is going to stick around the foreseeable future. The long-term future is still in question.”
Even though Quinn will stick around for now, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo said the Commanders are expected to “make some tweaks” before their Week 8 game.
There’s still a chance for the Commanders to be a playoff team.
Although they haven’t looked like a playoff contender, the Commanders have a chance to run the table in the NFC East.
With games coming up against the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in early November, it makes sense for the Commanders to commit to Quinn for at least the next month or so. If he can’t get the Commanders to climb up the standings though, he’ll find himself looking for another coaching gig.
The Commanders are currently in last place in the NFC East.
