5 things to watch as Giants face Commanders in Week 5 of 2026 NFL Season

Nobody would claim that the 2026 season has gone to plan for theGiants, who lost their starting quarterback and best defensive player to season-ending injuries. However, after four games, they find themselves on top of the NFC East with a chance to improve to 4-1 against the Washington Commanders.

Here are the key storylines towatchas the Giants look to keep the momentum going...

How long isJameis Winston's leash?

After two disappointing games following Jaxson Dart's season-ending injury, Winston's performance in the win over the Arizona Cardinals is probably best described as a mixed bag. Winston passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns but also threw two interceptions. In many ways, it was the kind of performance people have come to expect of Winston over the years.

Washington's secondary is probably the weakest aspect of their defense, so you can probably expect Winston to be aggressive on Sunday, even if Malik Nabers is limited or cannot play. However, J.J. McCarthy is waiting for his opportunity, having been active for the first time last weekend. Head coach John Harbaugh implied that the Giants might have a package of plays designed for McCarthy that could be unveiled at some point, too, so that will be another thing to watch for.

Arvell Reese vs. Sonny Styles

Reese and Styles were teammates at Ohio State last season, and their new teams will go head-to-head on Sunday, when comparisons between the two rookie linebackers are inevitable.

Reese was selected with the fifth overall pick in April with Styles going two picks later. At the time, many analysts questioned why the Giants didn't just select Styles if they were planning to use Reese as a full-time linebacker anyway. However, after a slow start, Reese has had excellent performances in back-to-back weeks.

Styles is also off to a great start, although Reese has been more statistically productive and currently leads the league in solo tackles. It will be fascinating to see how they compare on Sunday.

Is John Michael Schmitz going to be back at center?

Since the Giants drafted Schmitz, he's never quite developed the level of consistency they were looking for. Could New York be planning to move on?

Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants center John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

In the win over Arizona, Schmitz did not play after missing practice time due to the birth of his child. Bryan Hudson filled in for Schmitz and played well, leading some to speculate that the Giants intend to keep him in the starting role for the time being, even though Schmitz is fully available again.

It's possible that Schmitz being unavailable last week gave the Giants a convenient excuse for a benching, which may have been in the cards anyway. And the fact that Hudson performed so well certainly gives them options going forward.

Jayden Daniels is expected to return

Barring a late setback, Jayden Daniels will make his return on Sunday after missing the last few games with an arm injury.

Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to an upset win over Seattle in his absence, only to then get hurt himself in last Sunday's loss to the Colts in London.

Daniels was a dynamic player as a rookie, but injuries have stymied his growth since. The Giants are preparing for him on the basis that he'll be 100 percent. If he is, they will need to be mindful of the run threat he provides.

Time for Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux to step up

The Giants currently rank dead last in the NFL with only three sacks and are facing a Commanders team that has only given up five sacks all year, with only the 49ers having given up less than that. Nevertheless, New York will be determined to try and get after Daniels.

The Commanders' pass protection has held up well despite losing left tackle Laremy Tunsil in the preseason. They also lost their best guard, Sam Cosmi, to injury a few weeks ago, although he may be able to return on Sunday.

With Brian Burns out, the Giants are relying on Carter and Thibodeaux to create pressure, and the depth on the edge will be further tested after Chauncey Golston was lost to a potential long-term injury last week. Thibodeaux has just one quarterback hit and a pass rush win rate of 0.0 percent, so New York clearly needs more from him. Carter has a sack and five quarterback hits through four games, so he could be close to a breakout.