Olamide Zaccheaus and 4 unsung heroes from Commanders’ late-season surge
Some unsung heroes have been crucial for Washington down the stretch.
It’s taken a collective effort to get the Washington Commanders into the postseason. Dan Quinn’s squad deserves enormous credit for bouncing back from their midseason slump. They produced some professional displays and came through in the clutch to book their place in the knockout rounds.
This is a remarkable accomplishment in Year 1 of Quinn’s tenure. Nobody expected the Commanders to be in the playoffs this season. Almost everyone anticipated some improvement, but nothing of this magnitude. It’s a testament to the culture being built by the new regime and the shrewd personnel choices made by general manager Adam Peters to hit the ground running.
The future is incredibly bright for Washington. Fans are rejuvenated and everyone around the league is starting to look at this once-downtrodden organization differently. This should ensure they’ll be a coveted destination for pending free agents when the 2025 offseason arrives.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and other high-profile names are gaining the lion’s share of media attention for the team’s success. However, the Commanders don’t make the postseason if some less heralded individuals don’t stand up and make their presence felt.
With this in mind, here are five unsung heroes from the Commanders’ late-season surge into the postseason. We’ll start with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.
Unsung heroes from Commanders’ late-season surge to the playoffs
Olamide Zaccheaus – Commanders WR
The Washington Commanders were dealt a blow when wide receiver Noah Brown went to injured reserve. He was the undisputed No. 2 opposite Terry McLaurin, leaving rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels short of dependable options in the passing game with the playoffs in sight.
Someone needed to step up. Olamide Zaccheaus answered the call.
Zaccheaus is a proven rotational piece throughout his NFL career. When the time came for more involvement, the former undrafted free agent out of Virginia seized the moment with both hands. Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Daniels, who’s looked in his direction frequently over the last few contests.
The performances from Zaccheaus over the final two home games were especially pleasing. His assured hands and aggressive running after the catch were exactly what the Commanders were looking for at a crucial stage of the campaign. It’s also enhanced his chances of an extension beyond 2024 despite Washington’s need to strengthen the receiving corps this offseason.
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