Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. liked what he saw from his linebackers group last Sunday.

Whitt, meeting with the local media, Thursday, was complementary to Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee. Wagner again led the team in tackles, this time producing 14 (8 solo, 6 assisted) and he also contributed a quarterback hit, when blitzing, When asked about Wagner again contributing large numbers, Whitt responded, “He’s a coach on the field, that’s what he is. He has a calm composure about himself that if something is not right, he can make it right.”

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Whitt really liked the 14 tackles by Wagner. “He’s a tackling machine, so if the ball is in between the alleys, it’s going to be hard to get away from him.”

Knowing Wagner had been exposed two consecutive weeks in pass coverage, Whitt was quick to volunteer to those who may have forgotten that he nearly had a big takeaway in pass coverage. “And he really should have had an interception this last game, too. The quarterback just put it in a bad spot, but he can really catch the ball.”

But what Whitt and Dan Quinn have mentioned more than a few times is what they like best about Wagner.

“He’s just a phenomenal football player and he’s a better person, so I think the people that have been around him in the building, you know what type of man he is, and he’s a really, really standup person.”

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Frankie Luvu was active and around the ball against the Chargers. Luvu contributed four tackles (two solo, two assisted). Whitt felt the need to remind the media that Luvu is a good linebacker, which is why he still starts ahead of Magee, whom they drafted in the fourth round in 2024. Magee saw some action against the Chargers, contributing one solo tackle and two assisted tackles, down near the goal line, who quickly plugged the hole and made a key tackle for a loss. Thus, the Chargers attempted a pass on the next play, and DT Johnny Newton got his hand in the passing lane, deflecting the pass to Mike Sainristil, who held on for the interception at the Commanders‘ 1-yard line, stopping the Chargers’ drive.

Will Whitt be using Magee more in the future weeks this season? Whitt did the correct thing in not supplying a simplistic answer. Whitt responded instead, “Sometimes the offense will dictate certain people’s play time, but what I saw was a kid that went out there and played really fast. He played physical, assignment-free ball. And so, no mistakes from that standpoint.”

Whitt did choose to address the Bears this week, and thus apply a response about Magee applied to this week only.

“So, Chicago’s a 12-personnel team too (That means one running back, two tight ends). So, you can have high expectations for him to be out there in this game as well because he’s a young guy that can run. He’s just, right now he’s behind two really good players, Bobby and [LB] Frankie [Luvu]. So, it’s hard to just take them off the field and our two linebacker defenses. So, we’ve created some three linebacker defenses that gives him opportunities to play.”

Perhaps last week was the launching point for Magee, providing him more confidence moving forward for the 2025 Commanders.

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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Joe Whitt loved how his linebackers played