Commanders’ defense was stout in final 30 minutes, but it was too late

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

The Washington Commanders activated their full starting defense for the first time this season but fell 23-17 to the undefeated San Francisco 49ers after a slow first half. Despite a strong defensive second-half performance fueled by key players returning from injury, Washington’s inconsistent pass defense and offensive struggles continue to hinder their ability to secure wins.

Santa Clara, Calif. – The Washington Commanders fielded their full starting defense for the first time all season on Monday, but it was not enough to overcome a slow start in a 23-17 loss to the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. Entering the game with a 1-4-1 record, the Commanders’ defense faced significant challenges against one of the NFL’s top offenses.

Through the first half, the 49ers dominated offensively, scoring 20 points and amassing 303 yards, including 214 passing yards by quarterback Brock Purdy. The Commanders struggled to generate a meaningful pass rush, particularly after defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. Despite defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’s aggressive blitzing strategy, Washington was unable to contain San Francisco’s passing attack early on.

The return of cornerback Trey Amos and safety Nick Cross from injury provided a boost in the second half. Amos had missed the entire season to date with an ankle injury, while Cross had been sidelined for three games due to an undisclosed internal injury. With the full defensive unit on the field, Washington limited the 49ers to just 67 yards in the final two quarters and forced three consecutive three-and-outs to close the game.

Defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. acknowledged the shift in momentum. “We bowed up, and we played football in the second half,” Settle said. The Commanders recorded two sacks on Purdy in the second half and disrupted his timing by maintaining strong pass rush lanes. San Francisco’s offense also suffered a setback when wide receiver Mike Evans exited the game in the second quarter with an Achilles injury, contributing to the 49ers’ reduced productivity after halftime.

Washington’s pass defense has been a notable weakness this season, allowing an average of 28.7 points per game, ranking 29th in the league. Safety Jeremy Reaves emphasized the team’s need for sustained effort throughout games. “We have to all mesh together and find ways to win these games and be better in four quarters of a game and not just a half,” Reaves said.

In other news, the Commanders placed running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) and outside linebacker Javontae Jean-Baptiste (pectoral) on injured reserve prior to Monday’s game. Both players are expected to miss at least three more games, making their earliest possible return Nov. 23 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Croskey-Merritt had been battling a groin injury since training camp and struggled to replicate his rookie season performance this year, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry in 2026.

With Croskey-Merritt sidelined, Rachaad White started in the backfield against the 49ers, rushing for 27 yards on seven carries and catching a nine-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Still, the Commanders’ running game was hampered not only by injuries but also by ongoing struggles in the interior offensive line, which has had difficulty creating running lanes all season.

While Washington showed resilience on defense in the second half, sustaining that level of play over a full game remains a key hurdle as they seek to improve their record moving forward.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.