Washington’s defense has been the Commanders’ demise in Dan Quinn’s tenure two years in, but the 2026 unit should bring fans a different level of optimism. The front seven especially has a chance to be the backbone of the team, and according to Commanders staff and reporters at practice, injured players are beginning to return at the right time.
Edge K’Lavon Chaisson, who suffered a knee injury during Washington’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, has returned to practice after being limited
to side work and ultimately missing the preseason. Chaisson is an important piece of Washington’s revamped front seven and one of the team’s primary pass-rush specialists. The other, Odafe Oweh, has yet to return from his calf injury, but Dan Quinn expects him to be back at practice next week.
It’s no secret that quarterback Jayden Daniels is the lifeline of this football team. Washington will ultimately go as far as he takes them. But that puts more pressure than ever on the rest of the roster to support him, and it starts with the unit where general manager Adam Peters invested heavily this offseason.
During training camp, albeit in limited time, we got a glimpse of what Washington envisioned with Oweh and Chaisson. Speed and power off the edge created problems for the offensive line, and this explosive duo has easily given Washington the type of athleticism it lacked at times over the last two seasons.
Beyond the star free-agent additions, however, one player who will be asked to step up sooner than initially expected is rookie edge Joshua Josephs. With Dorance Armstrong now suspended for the first game of the season, Josephs is stepping into a role where he can be an impactful presence immediately.
It won’t just be about generating pressure for Josephs; staying disciplined within his assignments will be a major factor as a rookie. Rookies tend to be schemed against when quarterbacks and coaches identify who’s being rotated onto the field. It’s a big test to go up against one of the NFC’s best immediately — Washington plays at Philadelphia in Week 1 — but Joseph’s physical traits can stress any offensive lineman in the passing game.
Josephs isn’t the only rookie who can make an immediate impact for this front seven.
Washington’s off-ball linebackers are versatile, and No. 7 overall selection Sonny Styles is the most explosive and athletic out of the group. Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has been conservative in the preseason, which has indirectly contributed to the national skepticism surrounding Styles.
People are misrepresenting what Styles is capable of for any defensive coordinator. The one true question that does exist for Styles at this point is just how quickly the Ohio State product will adjust to the speed of the NFL. That will impact his ability to think freely and play downhill decisively.
What certainly helps Styles, though, is the development of Frankie Luvu in Jones’s system. He won’t be asked to figure everything out on his own.
Quinn stated this week that Luvu will share pre-snap duties with Styles, calling plays and having green dot responsibilities. Luvu’s in-scheme development could be particularly important, as Styles has a veteran resource while allowing Washington to ease him into one of the defense’s most important communication roles.
Luvu had a down year last season, like plenty of Commanders, but new coaches have ways of reigniting the flame in players simply by demonstrating their belief in him. That’s where Luvu’s added responsibilities and leadership come in, especially with the departure of Bobby Wagner this offseason, who was the defensive general for Washington the last two seasons.
While optimism about the front seven’s potential is warranted, it will continue to cause problems for the team if Washington cannot stop the run,. The interior line will go as far as Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw will take them, but Tim Settle and Shy Tuttle are essential pieces in the interior line. They’ll be relied on to be difference-makers in the run game and absorb blocks while maintaining gaps. It’s a selfless role, but it allows the rest of the defense to operate effectively.
The front seven will be protecting its secondary and giving that unit plenty of opportunities to make plays on the football, but if the idea is to create havoc for the opposing quarterback and get them uncomfortable, this year’s unit is the best it’s been during Quinn’s tenure.
It’s Daniels first when it comes to determining how far the 2026 Commanders can go. But for me, Washington’s front seven is the clear No. 2.
On the latest Trap or Dive Podcast, we do a deep dive on Washington’s defense and where exactly our confidence lies for each position group on the defense.
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Comment and let us know your confidence level for each position group for Washington’s defense. Don’t forget to also subscribe to the Trap or Dive Podcast.
