The Daily Slop – 9 October 2026
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
Sports Illustrated
Commanders News: Surprise Rookie Cut as Two Key Receivers Remain Sidelined
In a surprising but not shocking move, the Washington Commanders waived rookie running back Kaytron Allen, a sixth-round draft pick in April’s NFL Draft. In four games, Allen had 41 yards on 12 carries. Austin Ekeler’s return sealed his fate by pushing
him further down the depth chart. The move comes just days after Seattle signed Robert Henry Jr. off Washington’s practice squad. Reports said the team hoped to bring Allen back on the practice squad.
If one thing is for sure, it’s that the injury report is fluid this week and can change at any moment. While Jayden Daniels remained a full participantfor the second straight day, Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs did not practice again with hamstring injuries.
Sam Cosmi improved from limited to full, but Nick Allegretti remained limited Wednesday and did not practice Thursday with hip/Achilles issues; Sonny Styles and Ben Sinnott both improved to full participation, while safety Nick Cross moved from full Wednesday to limited Thursday with an illness.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Roundtable
3 key matchups to watch when Giants visit Commanders on Sunday
Sam Cosmi Enhances Every Aspect of the Offense
Washington is hoping Sam Cosmi’s return will stabilize an offensive line that has been shuffled, banged up, and inconsistent all season. He is practicing this week, and his return is as important as any other player on the roster.
While the Giants’ pass rush hasn’t generated the sack numbers their talent suggests it should, Thibodeaux and company are due. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has signaled publicly that this is the week the dam breaks. A Washington line that has been vulnerable across the board all season needs to be sharper than it has been. Any pressure that forces Daniels to take a hit on that elbow changes everything.
The good news is that the Giants’ pass rush has been genuinely pedestrian. New York is coming in with questions up front. Washington’s line has an opportunity to establish itself and give Daniels clean looks
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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Commanders.com
NFC East roundup | Commanders look for their first division win, 2nd home win of the season
Daniels was a welcome sight as a full practice participant on Wednesday, and the goal is for him to start against the Giants. Additionally, the Commanders designated Trey Amos, Jeremy McNichols and Deatrich Wise Jr. to return from Injured Reserve, which opens their 21-day practice window. Getting Daniels back is key to Washington’s offense, which could be without Terry McLaurin (hamstring) for a second straight week and Stefon Diggs (hamstring), who both popped up on the injury report and did not practice on Wednesday.
The biggest implication for the Commanders is getting a divisional win and improving to 2-3 overall. With a loss, the team would be getting out to a 1-4 start staring down the currently undefeated San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 19) and the Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 27) on the schedule. A win could turn the momentum in Washington’s favor, especially what could be the first win against a divisional opponent.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Athlon Sports
Washington Commanders Shouldn’t Take Away Jayden Daniels’ Edge
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) is expected back against the New York Giants, but his return will not solve the offense’s problems if it comes with a plan that turns one of the NFL’s most dangerous running QBs into a stationary passer. The priority, Locked On Commanders host David Harrison said, is reducing Daniels’ unnecessary exposure to contact while preserving the mobility that changes how defenses must play.
Harrison said the Commanders should not respond by dramatically shrinking offensive coordinator David Blough’s playbook. With Marcus Mariota also hurt, Washington has less margin for subjecting its franchise quarterback to avoidable hits, but Harrison argued that asking Daniels to stay in the pocket at all costs would hand New York a major advantage.
Harrison pointed to quick throws, screens, play-action, moving the pocket and Daniels’ ability to diagnose coverage and protection adjustments. Those answers matter because the Giants have shown an eagerness to blitz, and Washington’s protection has not consistently held up while Daniels and Mariota have been sidelined.
Daniels’ return would give Blough a more experienced quarterback to identify pressure, shift protection and punish extra rushers than rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. Harrison said the offense must prove it can handle pressure without sacrificing the quarterback’s defining trait.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
From ESPN:
Last week, Daniels said the brace won’t limit him when handing off or taking snaps from center.
The quarterbacks start each practice by taking snaps from under center, and Daniels was doing that last week as well as Wednesday. Daniels said he is getting used to the brace, which is different from the one he wore last season when he returned in Week 14 vs. Minnesota.
Daniels will need to wear the brace the rest of the season. He has talked since training camp opened about being smarter when running in games. His game has been built on dynamic play — running when needed, whether designed or scrambling.
“He’s full go,” Blough said Thursday when asked if Washington had to account for Daniels’ dislocated left elbow in the game plan. “We’re looking forward to having him back.”
To read more of this ESPN article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
Practice notes | Trey Amos grateful to be back out on the field
Amos, the Commanders’ second-round pick in 2025, has not played in a game since their Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions last season. He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. Amos said he’s feeling “great,” but he and the team are taking his path to contributing one step at a time.
“We’re gonna keep on building each and every day,” Amos said. “Just keep on grinding.”
There’s plenty for Amos to catch up on besides getting reacclimated to being on the field again. The Commanders have a new defensive scheme this season, and the secondary has been significantly reworked since Amos’ rookie season. Amik Robertson and Rasul Douglas are now the starters on the outside, so Amos will need to carve out a role and build on-field chemistry with his new teammates.
Amos is already ahead in some respects. Although he hasn’t been on the field, he’s been an active participant in meetings and asking questions. It’s caught the attention of defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, who said Amos has been “working his butt off…to get to this point.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Wire
How soon can the Commanders expect cornerback Trey Amos back?
Head coach Dan Quinn was asked Wednesday how soon he sees Amos returning to playing for the Commanders. “Austin Ekeler ruined it for everybody,” Quinn said laughing. Meaning that Ekeler returned from his torn Achilles and was ready to play some last week. Turning back to the matter of injured players like Amos, Quinn said, “Practice is important. That’s the main thing with Jeremy (McNichols), Deatrich (Wise) and Trey (Amos).”
Quinn, of course, has been around the NFL long enough; he certainly realizes an injured player should not be returned to action before his body has recovered. So he said, “No guidelines into it. Let’s go, see where we are at, play (practice) some ball. But as far as into a game? That is way too early to call. So we will kind of customize for them what is the right time.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders need Terry McLaurin at the moment, but his future beyond 2026 might be murky
Last year was a frustrating blip. If McLaurin has to miss another game this season with the team’s fortunes hanging by a thread, that will be even more disappointing.
That’s what general manager Adam Peters worried about.
The former Ohio State standout and Washington’s front-office leader were embroiled in a long contract standoff last year that threatened to spill over. Both sides were dug into their respective stances, and the Commanders only paid McLaurin when the deal’s structure was relatively team-friendly.
Obviously, nothing has been set in stone. The Commanders might be keeping McLaurin on ice, giving him all the time he needs to heal before giving him the green light at Northwest Stadium. At the same time, hamstrings are hard to manage.
And they can flare up again for someone who relies on quick movements and speed, such as McLaurin.
This isn’t what McLaurin had in mind, to put it mildly.
Last season was a gut punch for everyone, including the second-team All-Pro. He was determined to help the team and get back to his old form this season. That looked like a guarantee after his starring Week 3 effort against the Seattle Seahawks, but new roadblocks emerged immediately after.
McLaurin has taken one step forward and two steps back lately. If he does miss the game, it’ll be a race against time to be healthy for Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. If not, then it’ll have to be after the bye week.
And Peters will note all this before a big decision is due next year.
McLaurin has two more years remaining on his deal, counting $34 million and $39.5 million on Washington’s salary cap. There is no more guaranteed money, which is precisely why Peters wanted to cover his bases.
Having a receiver who costs so much and can’t stay healthy doesn’t seem smart, but the Commanders have an out if they decide to trade or release McLaurin. That would be a last resort, at least next season, but $39.5 million in the final year of his contract means his time in Washington might be running out.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
NFL Week 5 betting: Odds, lines and totals for every game
New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders -3.5
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
Moneyline: Giants (+160); Commanders (-192)
Total: 42.5; Opened: 48.5
FPI favorite: Commanders by 3.4 with a 63% probability to win the game outright
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Podcasts & videos
The District Film Room – Week 4: Sonny Styles
NFC East links
Big Cat Country
5 Questions with Bleeding Green Nation: Do the Lane Johnson-less Eagles stand a chance?
Question 2: Through four weeks, Philadelphia’s offense has averaged 269.8 yards per game (29th) and 18.8 points per game (26th). Is it time to have a serious conversation about Jalen Hurts, or has he truly been dealt a poor hand of playcallers throughout his career?
It’s beyond time to have a serious conversation with the entire offensive operation. Head coach, quarterback, offensive coordinator, the players. This isn’t just about one person. You don’t go 0/17 on third down over the last six quarters without collective failure.
My criticism goes first and foremost to Nick Sirianni, who had to give up play-calling several games into his head coaching tenure back in 2021 because he was so bad at it. And while the Super Bowl-winning head coach has a track record of winning, it’s more than fair to question the extent to which he’s been driving this team’s success. I’d make the case that he’s greatly benefited from Howie Roseman’s personnel prowess and Vic Fangio’s mastermind defensive savvy. With the Eagles needing Sirianni to have answers on offense, the head coach hasn’t been able to provide any. That much has been apparent since the start of the 2025 season.
This isn’t to absolve Hurts by any means. He deserves criticism as well. It’s pretty hard to win when your quarterback only has 68 net passing yards, which was the case in Week 4. But Hurts also played pretty well in the first two games of this season and even the first half of Week 3. The offense as a whole wasn’t functioning properly but Hurts was bailing that unit out by making big plays on third down. Not a great way to sustain success.
Question 5: Do you expect the Eagles to cover as 7-point underdogs, and do you have a favorite player prop for the game?
The Eagles are now 7.5-point underdogs as of me typing this sentence.
they’re injured and it seems like this might just not be the year for this team. I don’t trust them to be able to score enough to cover the spread. I like the Jags to win relatively comfortably.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
3 things we learned from the Cowboys vs Buccaneers
[T]he winless Buccaneers came into the Cowboys home and dominated them.
The game took off fast for Dallas with a touchdown on the opening drive. And then we sat dazed and confused as the Cowboys offense would only put up another three points until 5:26 left in the fourth quarter. The offense that was self-coined as the “Greatest Offense There Is” looked woefully unprepared to deal with the Tampa Bay blitz.
In this week’s pregame article we noted that the only viable path for the Buccaneers defense was to blitz Dak Prescott at a high rate. But that tactic would be a double-edged sword since Dak has been one of the league’s best in dealing with the blitz. The gamble paid off for Tampa Bay as the quarterback was under duress from free blitzers throughout the entire night. It affected him and the offense all night. Timings were thrown off, passes were tipped, and at times, Prescott struggled putting the ball where it needed to be.
On the other side of the ball, we know the defense is bad. But they had been taking micro steps towards improvement each and every week. This week the defense held on for a while, but completely folded in the third quarter. Mistake after mistake added up, ranging from missed tackles to dropped interceptions.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers: 2 winners and 3 losers
Loser: Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott looked nothing like the quarterback who engineered last week’s comeback.
Prescott went 24-of-42 for 316 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Several throws were simply inaccurate, but his response to pressure was the bigger concern. Tampa Bay sped up his internal clock and too often made Prescott hurry even before the rush actually reached him.
Some responsibility belongs to the protection and the play calling, but Prescott is the veteran quarterback being trusted to identify pressure and find the correct answer. Against a defense that entered the night with only six sacks in four games, Dallas shouldn’t have looked this uncomfortable. Tampa Bay dictated the terms, and Prescott struggled to change them.
Loser: Christian Parker
Where to even begin with this as Christian Parker couldn’t have asked for a more favourable quarterback matchup.
Tampa Bay arrived at AT&T Stadium winless, without Baker Mayfield, and with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels making only the second start of his NFL career. Rather than forcing the rookie to carry the Buccaneers offense, Dallas allowed Tampa Bay to protect him with the running game and some extremely poor tackling, with missed tackles coming in bunches at all levels of the field all night long.
Bucky Irving exploded for 165 yards on 21 carries averaging nearly eight yards per carry, and that also included a 72-yard run. Tampa Bay controlled possession for more than twice as long as Dallas with a total of 37 minutes thanks to their ground game and Parker had no answer for it. Daniels, meanwhile, completed 19 of 25 passes and never turned the football over. Dallas entered Thursday ranked 31st against the run, and nothing about this performance suggests Parker has found an answer.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
More from Blogging the Boys:
The Dallas Cowboys just did what almost no one thought they would do. They were an 8.5-point favorite going against a winless team, a team playing without its starting QB, instead playing an undrafted rookie at QB in his second-ever start. They lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-16.
Going into a mini-bye, the Cowboys needed this game for momentum, stacking wins, and putting a turbulent early season behind them. Instead, they just raised more questions, and lost a lot of goodwill among the fanbase.
The rest of the NFC East can celebrate as the Cowboys lose a game they should have won if they want to be contenders. They do not look like contenders. Brian Schottenheimer’s hot second half from last week didn’t carry over as the coach will come under more fire. Dak Prescott also struggled for large portions of the game
Dallas tried to make it interesting at the end by staging a comeback, but it fell short. A deserving end for a team that certainly didn’t play winning football.
To read more of this 2nd BTB article, CLICK HERE
Upcoming opponent – Giants
Commanders next game is at home vs NY Giants on Sunday at 1:00 pm
Giants-Commanders: Week 5 Crossover Preview
BiB: I thought this exchange between Ed Valentine and Scott Bair was insightful as to the situation with Dan Quinn, Josh Harris, and (indirectly) Adam Peters. I think the context spelled out by Bair in this section of the video is exactly right, and I think it is context that is overlooked by a lot of Washington fans.
Question: If they go 5- 12 again, does [Dan Quinn] survive it?
Scott Bair: I don’t think so to be honest with you. But I I also think that’s a nuclear disaster scenario, Ed, because what they’ve done with Jaden Daniels to this point is [that] they retained Dan Quinn who then got to hire two new coordinators.
So they installed brand new schemes.
David Blough is obviously from the — I don’t know if Ben Johnson has a coaching tree yet — but he’s influenced by Ben Johnson, which is, like, the hot offense these days.
And then you get a Brian Flores disciple in Donte Jones where they blitz 45% of the time — and they’re going to come after Jameis, I promise you that.
When you have those two guys and you install new schemes, the last thing you want to do at the end of the year is start over because, if you have a [new] head coach, pretty good odds that they’re going to bring in a new offensive system for Daniels — that would be the third in four years — a new defensive system for guys who are drafted to play this blitz-heavy 3-4 come-at-you-from-every-angle [and] versatile safeties type deal.
That would be a lot of ‘start over’ and I don’t think that they want that.
I think so to answer your question – 5-12 for a second straight year — I think you have a tough time retaining him. But…I think that is a worst case type of scenario.
They want they want and need continuity. The question is how much does Josh Harris the owner have in terms of patience? Uh he’s doing a lot to invest in the glory and the legacy of this Washington franchise. He owns a 76ers team with ‘trust the process’, right? So, will he trust the process [with the Commanders]? Does he believe that this leadership structure is the right one? It’s going to be important that they get that DQ gets buy-in, obviously, from the from the players, but also from the owner.
Sports Illustrated
Sonny Styles vs Arvell Reese: Which is Better Positioned to Win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese shared a linebacker room at Ohio State. On Sunday, Oct. 11, the two rookies will meet for the first time as NFC East rivals when the Washington Commanders host the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium.
Since joining the Commanders, Styles has 20 tackles (two for loss), one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and two passes defensed. He had eight tackles against Indy this past weekend, one week after becoming the franchise’s first rookie linebacker to record an interception, a forced fumble, and multiple passes defensed in one game. He won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for that performance. Styles’s play has put himin the conversation for rookie of the year, even if that conversation was had without words. He has demonstrated several ways to affect the passing game, which strengthens his case beyond his tackle total. PFF agrees, giving him an 85.2 coverage grade through four games, third among 74 qualifying linebackers.
Reese hasn’t been a slouch himself: in four games, he has 34 tackles (three for loss), four passes defensed, one interception, and two quarterback hits. This past Sunday against Arizona, he had nine tackles, three passes defensed, and his first NFL interception. PFF also credits Reese with 13 defensive stops and just one missed tackle, compared with seven stops and four missed tackles for Styles. That gives Reese an early advantage in tackling production and reliability as both build their cases for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Their overall PFF grades are nearly identical through four games: 77.1 for Reese and 76.9 for Styles. Reese has also played 243 defensive snaps compared with Styles’ 219, giving him more opportunities to add to his numbers.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
Undrafted rookie QB Daniels savors Thursday night win vs. Cowboys
Daniels, the first rookie quarterback to start in the 2026 season, also became the fourth undrafted rookie to win a primetime game since 2000 and the second to do so on the road.
A six-year starter at the University of Kansas, Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, and added 23 yards on the ground. He was aided by running back Bucky Irving, who rushed for a career-high 165 rushing yards and scored a rushing and receiving touchdown. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who had gotten off to a slow start to the season, also had a rushing touchdown and led the team with six catches.
Daniels showcased his deep ball with a 64-yard pass to wide receiver Tez Johnson, part of a 17-point scoring onslaught in the third quarter. But it was Daniels going 8-for-8 and finding Irving in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter that provided a spark. Bowles presented both players with game balls in the locker room.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL.com
Broncos’ Sean Payton takes over offensive play-calling duties after slow start for Bo Nix and Co.
Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed Thursday that he will take over offensive play-calling duties from first-year coordinator Davis Webb.
“We’ll make a change offensively,” Payton told reporters. “I’ll call the plays.
“I’ve done this long enough where I know when I have a future head coach, and (Webb)’s gonna be one. All the things that it’s hard to find will happen. In fact, the same thing to some degree, a little bit different, happened to myself earlier in my career.”
Nix’s statistics aren’t horrid by any means: He’s completed 60 percent of his passes for 819 yards and a 5-3 TD-INT ratio through four games, good for a passer rating of 80.4. But those numbers paint a picture of an average quarterback and are on track to finish as career-lows for Nix. Denver didn’t build this offense around Nix for him to simply be average.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Discussion topics
The Ringer
The Eagles will never recover from losing Jeff Stoutland
Stoutland was a problem solver and talent maker. Without Stout, Sirianni’s new crew is creating problems and running out of talent. The roster has undergone major talent drop-offs at edge, wide receiver, and (obviously) the offensive line. Five of Philadelphia’s top eight players in defensive snaps played in the 2025 Super Bowl are off the team. Six of its top eight guys in snaps on offense are either gone (A.J. Brown, Johnson, Becton, Jurgens) or missing time with injuries (Dickerson, Saquon Barkley). This isn’t the same Eagles team that won the Supe two years ago. It’s almost nothing like it at all, besides Sirianni; Big Dom; DC Vic Fangio, who’s trying to keep the talent-deprived defense alive; and, of course, the oft-memed Super Bowl MVP QB Jalen Hurts.
Hurts is still a roller-coaster good QB, not a consistent week-to-week game manager with a reliable floor. He isn’t one of today’s greats at the position because he’s so up and down, but he can’t be lazily labeled a bad QB because he still has bright flashes (even though they’re as rare as ever in the new Sirianni-Mannion offense). Hurts has played at (if not better than) Patrick Mahomes’s level twice in two Super Bowls—the top of the coaster, obviously. But right now, the Hurts coaster is at an all-time low in the worst situation of his seven-year NFL career. That’s not a get-out-of-meme-jail-free card for Hurts, though, and it’s no excuse for the (widely known) limitations to his game, such as his shortcomings when throwing over the middle or against pressure. It also doesn’t help that Hurts just doesn’t have the same dynamic running ability that gave him a bigger edge earlier in his career; he’s no longer a dangerous designed rusher beyond the tush push—which has also seen better days—because he just doesn’t have the juice anymore. But, again, Sirianni and Mannion must have known all of this stuff about Hurts like the rest of the football-watching world has for years now. THEY KNEW, AND THEY LET IT HAPPEN.
Barring a major turnaround on both sides of the ball, heads are going to roll in Philly: This is the worst coaching-talent combination it’s had since at least COVID. Stoutland’s departure in February, most likely because of his annoyance with Sirianni, could be the first major domino leading to the head coach’s firing before next season. I still stand where I did last week when I wrote that the Eagles need to #CleanOutTheNest—fire Sirianni and his staff, and move on from Hurts—but I want to dig my heels in even more and argue that they should keep the Jurgens-led fire sale going all the way up to the trade deadline and give Roseman everything possible to reset the entire team. I’ll save those keyboard strokes for when things (most likely) get a lot scarier for the Eagles closer to Halloween.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
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