The Washington Commanders find themselves in a challenging situation after placing their kicker, Austin Seibert, on injured reserve. Seibert's unexpected placement comes on the heels of a rocky performance in their recent 34-26 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, where Seibert missed two pivotal extra points—errors that contributed to the Commanders' defeat.
Prior to Sunday's matchup, Seibert had maintained a perfect streak, successfully converting all 22 of his extra-point attempts. However, during the game against the Cowboys, Seibert's reliability faltered. His first miss followed a 17-yard touchdown run by Jayden Daniels, a vital score that could have bolstered the Commanders' standing in the game. The second missed extra point came after an impressive 86-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Terry McLaurin, leaving the Commanders trailing by one point at 27-26.
Seibert's performance was overshadowed by the Cowboys, who overcame 10.5-point odds to secure a victory in a highly competitive game. A significant factor in their win was becoming the first team in NFL history to achieve two kickoff return touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a single game, a historical feat that cemented their triumph. Key contributions came from Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who played an instrumental role in navigating the team to victory.
In the aftermath of the game, Seibert expressed a deep sense of responsibility and regret for the missed opportunities. "I just want to play better for my teammates, you know, definitely don't want to do that," he remarked candidly. "Just wasn't striking well, but it means a lot to me to be here with these guys, so I just want to put my best foot... moving forward." Seibert also took full accountability for the missed extra points, stating simply, "It didn't make a difference at all. It's on me," regarding a low snap that he dismissed as a non-factor in his final attempt.
Concerns surrounding Seibert's physical condition have been prevalent, with his right hip being a point of contention. Despite this, Seibert insisted, "I felt fine. That's why I made the decision to play, and here we are." Yet the decision to play, despite feeling physically capable, may have contributed to his current status on injured reserve.
Adding a light-hearted note to the game, Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb, who previously attended Oklahoma University with Seibert, commented, "Shoutout [Commanders kicker Austin Seibert]. He went to OU with me. He gave us one," highlighting the connections and friendly rivalries that permeate professional sports.
The Commanders are now tasked with addressing the void left by Seibert's absence. With Seibert sidelined, they are yet again searching for a reliable kicker to regain momentum and stabilize their season trajectory. As they regroup from this setback, the Commanders aim to recalibrate their strategies and focus on long-term success in the face of ongoing challenges.