Commanders set for a season of transition in 2023
With a new owner and a revamped offense, there's reason for optimism in Washington. But can the Commanders keep pace in a tough NFC East?SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
LOGAN THOMAS
Logan Thomas, a big tight end with a big role, nears Commanders return The 6-foot-6 tight end and former quarterback is coming off a calf injury that has slowed him most of the preseason.
AUGUST 31, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Commanders 'Careful' With Logan Thomas Calf Injury Washington Commanders tight end Logan Thomas suffered a calf strain during the second week of training camp, with Ron Rivera detailing the e...
AUGUST 8, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Commanders TE Review: Logan Thomas Struggles; Sign Cowboys' Dalton Schultz? The Washington Commanders offense showed at times its scoring ability, but more is needed from its tight end unit.
JANUARY 28, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Held to 16 yards in finale Thomas caught two of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 26-6 win over Dallas.
Impact Thomas finishes his age-31 season with one touchdown in 14 games, having caught 39 of 61 targets for 323 yards (8.3 YPR, 5.3 YPT). He came back from last year's ACL tear for Week 1 and then returned from a calf injury after missing three games in October, mostly handling a familiar role as Washington's receiving threat at tight end. Thomas wasn't much of a threat in 2022, of course, and he's scheduled for a non-guaranteed $6.275 million base salary in 2023, the second season of his three-year extension, per OverTheCap.
JANUARY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Racks up six catches Thomas recorded six catches on seven targets for 56 yards in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Browns.
Impact Thomas was a favorite target of Carson Wentz and tied for the team lead with seven targets. He converted those opportunities at a high rate and recorded gains of 15, 11 and 10 yards. Thomas' production has remained volatile, though he has at least five receptions in three of his last six games.
JANUARY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Draws eight targets Thomas caught six of eight targets for 35 yards in Saturday's 27-20 loss to the 49ers.
Impact Thomas finished with one fewer target than Jahan Dotson (6-76-1) and three more than Terry McLaurin (4-77-1) and Curtis Samuel (5-52-1). Unlike his WR teammates, Thomas didn't have efficient per-target production while facing one of the top defenses in the league. He did finish with more than five catches and six targets for the fist time all year but still has just one game with 50-plus yards in 12 appearances (and one TD). Thomas has played more than half of Washington's offensive snaps in each appearance and should continue in his same role Week 17 against Cleveland and Week 18 versus Dallas.
DECEMBER 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Catches one pass in loss Thomas caught one of three targets for six yards in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Giants.
Impact Thomas operated as the Commanders' No. 1 tight end, playing 40 of the team's 63 offensive snaps in the contest. Unfortunately, the veteran was unable to make the most of limited opportunities. It's been a mostly disappointing season for Thomas, as he is averaging an abysmal 19.6 receiving yards per game and has scored just one touchdown this season. The 31-year-old remains a very risky fantasy option heading into a Week 16 matchup with the 49ers.
DECEMBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Held to 20 yards Thomas caught three of four targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 20-20 tie with the Giants.
Impact Thomas played 56 percent of offensive snaps, tying a season low from Week 8 when he was in his first game back from a three-week absence due to a calf injury. Thomas has averaged only 1.8 catches for 17.3 yards in five games since his return, unable to make much of a dent in an offense with talented wide receivers and a busy RB duo. He'll likely continue to get most of the TE snaps in obvious passing situations on the other side of a Week 14 bye when the Commanders face the Giants again.
DECEMBER 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Good to go Thomas (rib) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Giants, Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reports.
Impact Thomas has been listed with the rib injury for almost a month now and also dealt with an illness last week. He's caught only eight of 16 targets for 84 yards in five games since returning from a three-game absence due to a calf injury, but the Commanders have stuck with him as their top receiving tight end all the same, using Thomas on more than two-thirds of snaps in four straight games.
DECEMBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Remains limited Thursday Thomas (rib) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Thomas' rib injury has followed him for three weeks in a row, but he's been able to play through it both of the last two games, combining for six catches (on nine targets) for 72 yards while playing 69 percent of the Commanders' snaps. Ultimately, Friday's practice report will reveal whether or not the tight end enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest at the Giants.
DECEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Still dealing with rib issue Thomas (ribs) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Thomas played through the rib injury and an illness this past Sunday against Atlanta, catching one pass for seven yards on three targets. He's now played five straight games since missing three in a row with a calf injury, averaging only 1.6 catches for 16.8 yards on 3.2 targets despite playing more than half of Washington's offensive snaps in every game, including 68 percent or better the past four weeks. Thomas should be able to play against the Giants this Sunday but can't be relied upon for heavy volume in the passing game.
NOVEMBER 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Quiet against Falcons Thomas recorded one reception on three targets for seven yards in Sunday's 19-13 win over the Falcons.
Impact Thomas played through an injury to his ribs and an illness, perhaps a partial explanation for his poor performance. However, he's managed multiple receptions in only two of his last five games and recorded a combined 84 yards in that span. John Bates was more involved in the Commanders' offense against the Falcons, a potentially ominous sign for Thomas moving forward.
NOVEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Active against Falcons Thomas (ribs/illness) is active Week 12 against the Falcons.
Impact Despite catching five of six targets for 65 yards in Week 11, Thomas remained bothered by a ribs injury into the practice week, in addition to dealing with an illness. He'll overcome both of those obstacles to suit up Sunday against Atlanta -- a team that has allowed 62 receptions to opposing tight ends this season, which is tied with Miami for the second-most in the league.
NOVEMBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Likely to play in Week 12 Thomas (ribs/illness) remains listed as questionable but is in line to play Sunday against the Falcons, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Impact A lingering rib injury followed Thomas into Week 12 prep, limiting him at practice Wednesday and Thursday. An illness then prevented him from doing any on-field work Friday, resulting in him taking a designation into the weekend. Head coach Ron Rivera told John Keim of ESPN.com on Friday that he expected Thomas to be available this weekend, and Schefter's report backs up that assessment. Still, Thomas' status won't be clarified until about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
NOVEMBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Misses practice with illness Thomas, who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Atlanta, is dealing with an illness in addition to a rib injury, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Impact Thomas was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday. HIs absence Friday was due to the ailment and not a setback with the rib injury, with head coach Ron Rivera saying after practice that he expects Thomas to play Sunday against the Falcons. If not, the Commanders will be left with John Bates and Cole Turner as their top tight ends ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Expected to play Thomas (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Atlanta, with Commanders coach Ron Rivera saying Friday that he expects Thomas to play, John Keim of ESPN.com repo...
Impact Thomas managed limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, after catching five of six targets for a team-high 65 yards in Sunday's win over the Texans. He's otherwise had a quiet season, but he at least runs routes on most of Washington's pass plays whenever he's healthy and does have a history of fantasy utility (mostly in 2020). If Thomas ends up missing the game, which doesn't sound likely, the Commanders will be down to John Bates and Cole Turner at tight end, with the former more of an inline blocker and the latter more likely to run routes from the slot.
NOVEMBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Remains limited Thursday Thomas (ribs) was listed as limited on Tuesday's practice estimate.
Impact Last week, Thomas kicked it off with back-to-back capped sessions, but a full listing Friday cleared him of a designation ahead of this past Sunday's win at Houston. This time around, he's followed a similar regimen through two practice reports, meaning Friday's version may do the same for a Week 12 matchup with the Falcons.
NOVEMBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Still bothered by ribs Thomas (rib) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Impact He was listed with the same rib injury last week and ended up catching five of six targets for 65 yards in a win over the Texans. Production like that hasn't been the norm for Thomas this season, but he could have more useful weeks ahead as he's further removed from the ACL tear he suffered last year and the calf injury that cost him three weeks earlier this season. The Commanders host the Falcons in Week 12.
NOVEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
2022 Fantasy Football: Week 12 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Picks And Busts - PressBox Joe Serpico shares his Week 12 fantasy football starts, sits, sleepers and more, and Logan Thomas is his sleeper pick at TE this week.
NOVEMBER 22, 2022 • PRESSBOXONLINE.COM
Hail or Fail: Defense feasts, Logan Thomas shines in win over Texans Washington's takeaway barrage continued against Houston's putrid offense.
NOVEMBER 21, 2022 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM
Leads team in receiving yardage Thomas caught five passes for 65 yards on six targets against Houston on Sunday.
Impact The Texans corners seemed to get the better of the Washington receivers, with Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson combining for just two catches for 23 yards on four targets, and Thomas stepped up accordingly as the defense left him open. It's arguably Thomas' best game of the year so far, so hopefully he can avoid injuries and keep building on his momentum as Washington takes on Atlanta in Week 12.
NOVEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Heinicke wins starting job after Commanders top Texans 23-10
Taylor Heinicke threw for 191 yards, Kendall Fuller returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Washington Commanders rolled to a 23-10 win over the hapless Houston TexansNOVEMBER 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cleared for Sunday Thomas (ribs) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game in Houston, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Thomas missed Weeks 5-7 with a calf injury and has caught only two of seven targets for 12 yards in three games since returning. He played 72 and 73 percent of offensive snaps in Washington's past two games, but Taylor Heinicke mostly has focused his attention on WR Terry McLaurin and the team's running backs.
NOVEMBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Limited again Thursday Thomas (ribs) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday.
Impact After dealing with knee and calf injuries already this season, Thomas now has a rib issue, which so far has resulted in a cap on his reps in both sessions during Week 11 prep. He'll have one more opportunity to get back to full before the Commanders potentially make a ruling on his availability for Sunday's game at Houston.
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
