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Stefon Diggs vs. Eagles Week 8: Three Expectations for Commanders WR
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- Stefon Diggs vs. Eagles Week 8: Three Expectations for Commanders WR
Commanders fans at Northwest Stadium will see a hometown name at the top of the receiver depth chart Sunday night. Stefon Diggs, the Gaithersburg, Maryland, native who signed a one-year deal with Washington in August after a 1,013-yard season with the New England Patriots, is Jayden Daniels' No. 1 option now that Terry McLaurin is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon.
Diggs sat out Wednesday's practice with hand and hamstring designations plus a rest day, then was a full participant Thursday . A hamstring injury kept him out of the Oct. 11 tie with the New York Giants, his only absence this season . Dan Quinn said Diggs' workload won't change much without McLaurin, per The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, as Washington laid out its receiver plan .
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Washington (1-4-1) hosts the Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Here's what to expect from the 32-year-old receiver.
Daniels looks his way early and often
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) catches a four-yard pass for a touchdown thrown by quarterback Jayden Daniels (not pictured) against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 20, 2026.Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Diggs has 24 catches on 38 targets for 214 yards and four touchdowns in five games, according to ESPN , and he's drawn at least six targets in every one of them. He's averaging 8.9 yards per catch and 2.5 yards after the catch, per his PFF page , where he carries a 70.8 overall grade, 32nd among 77 receivers.
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He caught six of seven targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the 23-17 loss to San Francisco on Oct. 19, when Chig Okonkwo and Treylon Burks also stepped up after McLaurin left . Burks (foot) didn't practice Thursday, which narrows the list of options. Expect at least eight targets, six catches and about 55 yards, mostly on quick-developing throws that take pressure off Daniels .
Quinyon Mitchell takes away the deep shots
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (27) in the tunnel during an NFL game.Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has a 73.2 coverage grade, 14th among 97 corners, and a 64.7 passer rating allowed, per PFF . That number looks even better next to the 146.3 mark allowed by Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil . Riq Woolen, who signed with Philadelphia in free agency after four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, has six passes defended in seven games, per the Eagles .
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Philadelphia's secondary is thinner than usual, though. Eagles cornerback Jonathan Jones (hamstring) is one of five players ruled out , and Cooper DeJean's trouble in space showed up among the Eagles' weaknesses the Commanders can exploit . Diggs' longest catch this season is 20 yards. Expect that to hold, with his production coming on slants and option routes away from Mitchell.
He scores again and keeps it clean
Oct 19, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Diggs leads Washington with four touchdown catches, sixth among receivers at PFF, and two came in Dallas on Sept. 20. He also scored in Philadelphia in the opener, then hugged the goalpost and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that forced Washington to kick the extra point instead of going for two. The Commanders lost 24-22 after a failed two-point try with 1:01 left.
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"I take full accountability," Diggs said afterward, per The Associated Press . Daniels was blunter. "You just gotta be smarter," he told reporters . The NFL fined Diggs $14,296, A to Z Sports reported .
Diggs has 29 catches for 405 yards and five touchdowns in his career against Philadelphia, according to StatMuse . He also absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit from 49ers safety Malik Mustapha in his last game and kept playing. Expect a touchdown inside the 10-yard line, followed by a celebration that stays within the rules.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
