An unusual inactive list on a short week
A punter on the inactive list? That’s not something you see often. But that was the reality for Washington on September 11, 2025, as the Commanders and Packers set their 48-man dress lists for Thursday Night Football. Washington sat punter Mitch Wishnowsky (No. 13), while Green Bay got an unexpected boost: cornerback Nate Hobbs was cleared to go after injury concerns earlier in the week.
For Green Bay, the good news in the secondary came with a hit up front. The Packers were without two starting offensive linemen, a nasty combination for any team on a short turnaround. That kind of shuffle affects everything—protection calls, the run game, even how often you can hold the ball for deeper shots.
Washington’s list was just as telling. Josh Johnson (No. 14) was inactive but designated as the emergency quarterback, the role the league created to protect teams from running out of QBs. Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (No. 36) was also down, and so were two backup tackles—Trent Scott and George Fant—leaving the Commanders with tight margins if anything happened at either edge spot.
Under the emergency QB rule adopted in 2023, Johnson can only enter if both active quarterbacks are injured and cannot return. If one of the active QBs gets cleared again, the emergency QB has to come off the field. It keeps a third quarterback available without costing an active spot—smart insurance on a night when bodies are sore and practice time is light.
Why these choices matter once the whistle blows
Let’s start with Hobbs. He’s a physical slot corner who can blitz and tackle in space, which helps Green Bay’s third-down plan and their run fits against spreads. Having him available expands the nickel and dime menu—more disguises, more pressure looks, more confidence to get aggressive on money downs. If Washington leans on quick game or option routes inside, Hobbs changes the math.
The Packers’ line absences push everything toward a “get it out fast” approach. Expect more slants, hitches, and crossers, plus screens to slow down the rush. Tight ends and backs usually chip more in this setup, and you’ll see condensed formations to shorten edges for the tackles who are stepping in. Don’t be surprised by a heavier dose of play-action with max protect on select shots—fewer routes, but cleaner pockets.
Run-game mechanics change, too. You simplify combos for linemen who haven’t logged many snaps together, use motion to force lighter boxes, and lean on runs that hit quickly—inside zone, duo, the occasional trap—over longer-developing pulls. The goal is to keep the chains moving and stay out of third-and-long, where pass rushers can tee off.
For Washington, the inactive list shapes two phases: special teams and offensive line depth. With Wishnowsky inactive, the Commanders had to lean on contingencies. Teams usually rep an emergency punter in practice—sometimes the kicker, sometimes a position player with a soccer past—and they always name a backup holder for field goals. That affects timing on kicks and the comfort of the operation. It can also nudge fourth-down decisions. If punting is a little shakier than normal, coaches get more aggressive near midfield.
The offensive line depth is the other tightrope. With both Trent Scott and George Fant inactive, the Commanders had fewer safety nets behind their starting tackles. In-game, that often means a tight end becomes the de facto sixth lineman if there’s an injury, or a guard kicks out to tackle with a depth player sliding inside. The cost is flexibility—you lose some of your best heavy packages if you’re using those bodies for survival instead of strategy.
Rodriguez being down trims Washington’s backfield rotation. That can show up late in the game when pass protection snaps pile up and blitz pickup becomes a grind. It also reduces short-yardage options—those snaps often go to a bigger back who can hammer inside and move piles. Expect the remaining backs to split early-down and third-down work, with the staff protecting them from heavy one-on-one matchups against free rushers.
All of this unfolded under the usual Thursday squeeze. Teams barely practice in full pads on a short week, so questionable players are more likely to be true game-time calls. Coaches build narrower, cleaner game plans—less volume, more plays they trust their guys can execute on tired legs. That discipline shows up in tempo choices, substitution patterns, and the way coordinators manage risk in the middle eight minutes around halftime.
Special teams could quietly swing this one. If Washington’s emergency plan at punter or holder hiccups, field position and kick timing turn into hidden yards. On the other sideline, Green Bay’s path is about rhythm and balance—don’t let the pass rush turn the game into third-and-obvious, and use motion and misdirection to steal free yards.
Through it all, the headline doesn’t change: this is a roster chess match as much as a football game. Each inactive—and the contingency behind it—nudges strategy on every snap of Packers vs Commanders.
What to watch as the game unfolds:
- How Washington handles holding on field goals and who takes any emergency punts.
- The Packers’ pass-protection help: tight end chips, running back scans, and max-protect shots.
- Tempo and quick-game volume to protect both offensive lines from long-developing plays.
- Hobbs in the slot on third down—press looks, blitz threats, and tackles in space.
- Commanders’ fourth-down choices near midfield if the punt game feels shaky.
- Any offensive line reshuffles mid-game and how that changes personnel groupings.