Commanders' new arrival just walked into most awkward reunion possible
The Washington Commanders are turning over every available stone to tread water during their injury crisis. It's not ideal, but those in power are doing their best to make the most of a very concerning situation.
Adam Peters never sits still. This was once again evident with the reported signing of veteran wide receiver Robbie Chosen to their practice squad, who'll provide insurance with second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown on the shelf.
Chosen will be relishing the chance to help out on a team expected to be in playoff contention despite their rocky 2-2 start. However, he's also stumbled into the most awkward reunion imaginable along the way.
Robbie Chosen's path crosses with Scott Fitterer again on the Commanders
The former Temple star was riding on the crest of a wave after going over 1,000 receiving yards for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Chosen got a one-year extension in recognition of his tremendous impact, but the firing of his former college coach, Matt Rhule, changed everything in the blink of an eye.
He didn't feel Rhule should have been scapegoated, an opinion not shared by fans. Chosen and interim coach Steve Wilks didn't hit it off. A sideline spat against the Los Angeles Rams resulted in his dismissal from the game while it was still in progress. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals the next day.
The man who traded him was Scott Fitterer, who is now working in Washington's front office after his tenure as Panthers general manager ended with his inevitable firing.
It's amusing how the NFL sometimes works out. Chosen and Fitterer probably didn't think that their paths would cross again. The wideout was far from complimentary about the way his situation in Carolina was handled, so whether any animosity remains between the two remains to be seen. Either way, it shouldn't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things, even if it might get a little awkward.
Chosen's primary focus should center on a quick integration. He has a chance to feature if he takes on coaching. He's also got previous experience working with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was his head coach in Arizona for 10 games before his abrupt removal.
That should smooth his transition, but expecting miracles right away isn't fair. Chosen hasn't produced any lofty numbers since 2021. He's 32 years old and may have lost some of his explosiveness. But if anyone can get a tune out of him, it's Kingsbury.
Whether Fitterer's input was sought before this transaction is anyone's guess. But Kingsbury's opinion probably held more weight.
Clark Hunt Reflects on Patrick Mahomes' Breakout Game Against Steelers in 2018
For almost two decades, the New England Patriots were the bully in the AFC. They routinely stood in the way of the Pittsburgh Steelers making it to the Super Bowl. However, once their dynasty ended, it didn’t take long for another team to fill that void. The Kansas City Chiefs
“The following week, we went to Pittsburgh, a place that we had had a lot of difficulty getting a victory,” Hunt said Wednesday on FS1’s First Things First. “And that game was effectively over by halftime. I think he and [Travis] Kelce connected for three or so touchdowns. We couldn’t believe it. It was so special.”
The game Clark refers to came in Week 2 of the 2018 season. That was Mahomes’ first start against the Steelers, and it didn’t end well for Pittsburgh. The Chiefs jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. It wasn’t quite as lopsided as Hunt remembers it being, with the Steelers coming back to make it a tie game at 21-21 at halftime. However, they couldn’t hold the Chiefs off for long.
Kansas City won that game 42-37, and Mahomes put on a show. He completed 23 of his 28 passes for 326 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. It’s easy to see why Hunt came away impressed.
That game represented a shifting of the tides for games between the Chiefs and Steelers. Like Hunt said, the Chiefs struggled against the Steelers before Mahomes came along, especially in Pittsburgh. Pre-Mahomes, the last time they won in Pittsburgh was 1986.
Since Mahomes joined the Chiefs, things have changed. The Steelers have played them four times, including one playoff game and one game in Pittsburgh, and they’ve lost every game. Besides their first meeting, none of them has been particularly close. The Steelers have continued to get blown out by the Chiefs.
The Steelers aren’t scheduled to face the Chiefs this year, but perhaps the two teams will meet in the playoffs. Kansas City hasn’t looked as dominant so far this season, but as long as they have Mahomes, they’ll be in the Super Bowl conversation. That means they’ll be in the Steelers’ way. We’ll see if they
