Commanders are still waiting for Daniels and McLaurin to return and need to fix their defense

WASHINGTON (AP) — Missing the injured Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin is hardly ideal for the Washington Commanders' offense, of course, yet the most glaring issue at the moment is their defense.

Coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. have work to do this week as the Commanders (2-2) prepare to face quarterback Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (3-1) next Sunday following a 34-27 loss at the Atlanta Falcons.

“It’s very easy to beat a defense that you know isn’t out there focused and communicating the right way,” said cornerback Mike Sainristil, who did provide one highlight by intercepting Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for Washington’s first forced turnover of the season.

The Falcons (2-2) were coming off a 30-0 loss against the lowly Carolina Panthers — a performance Atlanta coach Raheem Morris said produced a “nasty, disgusting taste" — and Penix, running back Bijan Robinson and wideout Drake London looked like world-beaters against Washington, which is 0-2 on the road.

Penix went 20 of 26 for a career-best 313 yards passing with a pair of TDs. Robinson ran 17 times for 75 yards and caught four throws for 106 yards, including one that went for 69. London's eight catches accounted for 110 yards and a score.

Robinson and London were the first running back and wideout teammates with 100 yards receiving apiece in any NFL game since November 2018.

In all, the Commanders allowed the Falcons to generate a season-high 435 yards.

“We’ve got to grow from it, man. That’s the message,” Quinn said. “We will get better. I’m certain of it.”

The running game. Still using a committee of running backs, Washington gained 147 yards on 22 carries, an average of 6.7. Again, there was a huge play, this time a 48-yarder by Chris Rodriguez. He wound up with 59 yards on seven carries, while rookie seventh-round pick Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt ran for 47, quarterback Marcus Mariota — making his second consecutive start in place of Daniels — picked up 20 and three other players also had runs.

The defense. Washington flopped on that side of the ball in just about every meaningful way. After leading the league in limiting opponents' third-down conversions through Week 3, the Commanders allowed the Falcons to go 6 for 12. A week after getting five sacks, Washington managed just one. Atlanta had four plays that each went more than 20 yards, and a total of 15 that each gained more than 10. “The explosive plays, that was a big thing,” Quinn said. “And then not winning on third down enough.”

WR Luke McCaffrey. Christian McCaffrey's younger brother has a TD catch in two games in a row and he also accumulated 199 yards on kickoff returns Sunday, a single-game high in the NFL this season.

CB Marshon Lattimore. Hard to point to one player on the defense after this game, but Lattimore continues to give up yards in chunks.

The focus will remain on Daniels (knee) and McLaurin (quadriceps) until they return, but Washington is dealing with a lot of other injuries. DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste needs surgery after tearing a pectoral muscle in Sunday's game and will head to injured reserve; Quinn said it's “usually something that's months, not weeks.” WR Noah Brown (groin, knee), TE John Bates (groin) and S Percy Butler (hip) all missed Sunday. RB Austin Ekeler, DE Deatrich Wise, CB Jonathan Jones and S Will Harris are on injured reserve. Guard Sam Cosmi has been out all season after tearing a knee ligament in the playoffs; the team is waiting for him to be able to practice, and Quinn said he's “getting closer, for sure.”

4 for 4 — PK Matt Gay's success rate on field-goal attempts against Atlanta, making kicks from 41, 42, 43 and 52 yards. Gay now has made six straight field goals after going through a 1-for-4 patch that included a miss from 37 yards out. Quinn found the negative side to giving Gay that many opportunities on Sunday, though, saying: "Pleased Matt hit them, but I want to make sure (we) score some (more) touchdowns.”

The Commanders stay on the road and head out to California to face the Chargers, who are coming off their first loss of the season, 21-18 against rookie Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants. This starts a segment of the schedule in which Washington plays eight consecutive games that all start at times other than 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (11) scores a touchdown past Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball past Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., below, recovers a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil intercepts a pass by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. that was intended for Falcons wide receiver Drake London during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Fighting continued to rage Saturday morning along the border of Thailand and Cambodia, even after U.S. President Donald Trump, acting as a mediator, declared that he had won agreement from both countries for a ceasefire.

Thai officials have said they did not agree to a ceasefire, and Cambodia has not commented on Trump’s claim. Its defense ministry instead said Thai jets carried out airstrikes Saturday morning. Cambodian media reported Trump’s claim without elaborating.

The latest large-scale fighting was set off by a skirmish on Dec. 7 that wounded two Thai soldiers and derailed a ceasefire promoted by Trump that ended five days of earlier combat in July over longstanding territorial disputes.

The July ceasefire was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalized in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended.

About two dozen people have officially been reported killed in this past week’s fighting, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border.

The Thai military acknowledges 11 of its troops have been killed, while estimating there have been 165 fatalities among Cambodian soldiers. Cambodia has not announced military casualties, but has said at least 11 civilians have been killed and 76 wounded.

Trump on Friday, after speaking to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, had announced an agreement to restart the ceasefire.

“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” Trump said in his Truth Social post.

Trump’s claim came after midnight in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Anutin had after his call with Trump said he had explained Thailand’s reasons for fighting and said peace would depend on Cambodia ceasing its attacks first. The Thai foreign ministry later explicitly disputed Trump’s claim that a ceasefire had been reached. Anutin's busy day on Friday including dissolving Parliament so new elections could be held early next year.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, in comments posted early Saturday morning, also made no mention of a ceasefire.

He said he held phone conversations on Friday night with Trump, and a night earlier with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and thanked both “for their continuous efforts to achieve a long-lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand.”

“Cambodia is ready to cooperate in any way that is needed,' Hun Manet wrote.

Thailand has been carrying out airstrikes on what it says are strictly military targets, while Cambodia has been firing thousands of medium-range BM-21 rockets that have caused havoc but relatively few casualties.

BM-21 rocket launchers can fire up to 40 rockets at a time with a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles). These rockets cannot be precisely targeted and have landed largely in areas from where most people have already been evacuated.

However, the Thai army announced Saturday that BM-21 rockets had hit a civilian area in Sisaket province, seriously injuring two civilians who had heard warning sirens and had been running toward a bunker for safety.

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Peck reported from Bangkok. Sopheng Cheang in Serei Saophoan, Cambodia, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

An evacuee tastes soup as she takes refuge in Banteay Menchey provincial town, Cambodia, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, after fleeing from home following fighting between Thailand and Cambodia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Evacuees cook food as they take refuge in Banteay Menchey provincial town, Cambodia, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, after fleeing homes following fighting between Thailand and Cambodia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Children raise their hands while receiving donation from charity as they take refuge in Banteay Menchey provincial town, Cambodia, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, after fleeing homes following fighting between Thailand and Cambodia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Evacuees wait to receive donation from local charity as they take refuge in Banteay Menchey provincial town, Cambodia, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, after fleeing homes following fighting between Thailand and Cambodia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Village security volunteers and resident run into shelter while the blasts sounded too close in Buriram province, Thailand, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, following renewed border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)