Commanders Fall to 1-4 After Loss to 49ers

The Washington Commanders lost 23-17 to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, falling to 1-4 after a failed fourth-down attempt and a sideline reaction by coach Dan Quinn drew attention. The disputed sequence came in the second quarter, when Washington chose to keep its offense on the field rather than try a field goal. Facing fourth-and-two in San Francisco territory, quarterback Jayden Daniels threw an incomplete pass. The drive ended on downs, giving the 49ers possession. Television footage then appeared to show Quinn signaling for the field-goal unit, prompting questions about whether he realized the play had ended the possession. The footage had no audible explanation of what he said. Quinn said after the game that he knew it was fourth down and that Washington intended to go for it. He explained the decision by saying the team expected a high-scoring game and would need to attempt fourth-down conversions. That account contrasts with interpretations of the footage that Quinn appeared unaware of the situation; the video alone does not establish what he was communicating. The failed attempt came as Washington sought to respond to San Francisco’s early lead. The Commanders...