Competition, competition, competition
Dan Quinn has been adamant this will be the Commanders’ most competitive training camp since he took over in 2024.
“You’ll find some competition in an everyday sense, and I think that’s one of the very best ways that we’ll get better — just good-on-good situations. Into tomorrow, there’ll be a two-point play competition — best out of five — and those are the moments I think you’ll find some game scenarios and situations in every practice [like] two minute and four minute [drills], last plays, setting
up field goals.
“Can we put ourselves in these spots so when we the air gets thin, that we feel like that’s our space, and we’re going to work really hard into that spot?
I feel a hunger from the team, so they’re ready to get into that.”
Reacts survey
This week’s Reacts survey comprised a single question: Outside of quarterback, which position group’s development during this training camp will most dictate the Commanders’ success in the 2026 season?
The results were a bit unusual in that four different position groups got double-digit percentages of the overall vote.
Two defensive groups (LBs and DBs) and two offensive groups (WR/TEs and OL) comprised those 4 groups of top vote-getters.
In my mind, the four groups break out into three sub-groups when it comes to why readers voted for them.
Group 1: High confidence
The linebacking corps drew the largest percentage of this week’s responses, and I believe that’s because fans feel highly confident that this is a deep and talented position group. In fact, I’ve heard and read many people (myself included) suggest that this is the best overall group of inside linebackers that the Commanders has fielded in recent memory.
It may take some time to adjust to thinking about Washington’s edge rushers as primarily aligning as outside linebackers in a 3-man front instead of DEs in a 4-man front, but the work that Adam Peters did this offseason to re-make the edge rushing group was also part of what drove some Hogs Haven readers to vote for this position group.
To put a finer point on it, I think these 12 players are the ones that likely are in most people’s minds when they think of Washington’s training camp linebackers:
Anchoring the middle, the inside linebackers appear to bring elite instincts, lateral speed, and bone-crushing physicality. While Sonny Styles is a rookie and unproven at the pro level, he is the son of an NFL player, and was drafted 7th overall for a number of good reasons. Expectations are high that Styles will step right into a high-performance group, and that the rookie will see a lot of play time alongside proven veterans Leo Chenal and Frankie Luvu. Frankie, in 2025, was asked to play out of position for much of the season to make up for a devastating number of injuries to other players. With him back in his natural position and in a scheme that is built to take advantage of his strengths, the group’s sideline-to-sideline pursuit ought to be perfectly complemented by the still-developing high-motor play of Jordan Magee, with Kain Medrano, and Ale Kaho competing for roster spots primarily on the strength of their special teams play.
On the perimeter, the outside linebackers have gotten a lot of “wows” from training camp observers in the first two days. With their size and experience, they should provide a terrifying edge presence characterized by raw speed and versatile coverage capabilities. The explosive tandem of Odafe Oweh and Dorance Armstrong will likely have the ability to set a ferocious edge against the run while consistently collapsing the pocket. Complemented by the twitchy athleticism of K’Lavon Chaisson and the length and potential of rookie Joshua Josephs, this group will be counted on the create consistent pressure, made relentless by the expected blitz-heavy scheme of new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Both Javonte Jean-Baptiste, who played about 26% of defensive snaps over the past two seasons, and Drake Jackson, who appeared in the final 3 games of the ’25 season after being activated from injured reserve, look to be on the roster bubble in 2026 following March and April roster upgrades.
Group 2: Shaky confidence
The pass catchers and defensive backs each drew about 1 in 5 voters this week, and I think the reason was that many Commanders fans remain unconvinced that Washington’s front office did enough to ensure that the starting talent is good enough or that the depth is sufficient to withstand injuries to starters.
Pass catchers
For the purposes of the survey, I had to combine the WRs and TEs together.
At tight end, I think most fans are sold on Chig Okonkwo being an explosive playmaker in the passing game, but may have more questions about his run game blocking. John Bates would be his mirror image as a skilled blocker, but merely a competent receiver. Questions hover around 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott, as well as 2024 UDFA Colson Yankoff.
The bigger concerns at WR have been discussed all offseason.
Firstly, does Washington have enough skill at the position outside of Terry McLaurin, with the rookie Antonio Williams being added to the group of veterans that all have question marks: Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks and Van Jefferson?
Many argue that, if Jayden Daniels is healthy, he will elevate this group of generally undistinguished receivers to achieve on the field just like he did in 2024. In fact, the argument can be made that: (a) this group is more skilled than the ‘24 group was; (b) Daniels is a more fully developed QB than he was in ‘24; and (c) the new offensive coordinator will be better able to use scheme and motion to create passing opportunities than was true in ‘24. So, maybe, with a healthy JD5, this group will be good enough.
That raises the second concern, however, of whether the group can perform at a playoff level if Terry McLaurin misses significant playing time, as he did in 2025. His absence from the field in training camp and most of the regular season last year is seen by many as a central factor in the team’s struggles. His presence throughout the offseason so far in 2026 has been credited as a major factor in a more energetic ‘vibe’ in this year’s camp. It’s hard to overstate the negative impact that another serious injury to Terry would have on the 2026 season, making the lack of a clear playmaking #2 receiver an issue that simply won’t go away.
Defensive backs
The concerns about the DBs mirror those that surround the wide receivers. There are no proven stars at safety or cornerback, and question marks are linked to health, size, or performance of nearly every player in the position group. While many people have made strong arguments that Nick Cross, Will Harris, Trey Amos, Mikey Sainristil, Amik Robertson or Rasul Douglas will play very well this year in Daronte Jones’ expected new blitz-heavy, zone-heavy scheme, a different fan, analyst or observer could make an equally strong evidence-backed case against each of those players having a great year in 2026.
Clearly, as defined in this week’s question, the development of the secondary during this training camp will probably have a lot to do with the Commanders’ success in the coming season.
Group 3: Confidence mixed with concern
On a fan site named for the most famous offensive line in NFL history, it’s no surprise that nearly a quarter of respondents opted for the offensive line in our survey. I don’t think anyone here would underestimate the importance of the OL to the team’s success.
I think that most Commanders fans feel pretty damned good about 4 positions: LT, LG, RG, RT, with 3 of those positions being manned by former 1s- or 2nd-round draft picks who played well for at least part of last season, and all of whom enter the 2026 training camp fully healthy.
There has been, however, a lot of offseason angst about the center position — with an inexplicable series of events that saw Adam Peters release Tyler Biadasz early in the offseason before trying and failing to sign the top free agent center, Tyler Linderbaum, and then waiting until the 6th round to draft Matt Gulbin, who appears not-quite-ready for Week 1 in the NFL, and who many observers suggest may be a poor scheme fit for the new Commanders offense.
The team seems to be left with Nick Allegretti by default. While the coaches (and GM) have praised Allegretti’s intelligence and communication, fans have mostly been underwhelmed at the thought of him starting at this key position. That concern was exacerbated when Allegretti walked off the field on the first day of training camp with what was later reported to be a calf strain, and fans were faced with the sudden possibility of opening up against the Eagles in Week 1 with Jayden Daniels taking snaps from Julian Good-Jones or the rookie Gulbin. Sayings about the strength of chains and weakest links pop to mind when pondering this potential OL scenario.
Bottom Line
Coming off a 5-win season and entering the 2026 season with 2 new coordinators and at least 15 veteran free agents who weren’t playing for Washington a year ago, questions and opportunities abound.
It’s clear that, outside of Jayden Daniels’ health and performance, there is no single position group that holds the key to Commanders success in 2026; this is genuinely a case of the entire team needing to rise up to meet its potential.
Final notes:
Back together weekend
Today (Saturday, August 1st) is the first day of training camp that is open to the public, and it will be part of the NFL’s “Back Together Weekend”.
Presented by YouTube TV, Back Together Weekend will feature celebrations that will once again span two days – Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2.
NFL Network and ESPN will provide complete coverage of all the action, including practices, player interviews, behind-the-scenes moments and fanfests from around the country. Beginning at noon ET on August 1 and continuing at 10 a.m. ET on August 2, NFL Network will provide nine hours of live coverage over the two days as teams across the league hit the field. Separately, ESPN will provide three hours of coverage on August 1 starting at 9 a.m. ET. NFL Network’s Inside Training Camp coverage begins Monday, August 3 at 10 a.m. ET and provides daily coverage of training camps through Wednesday, August 12.
First preseason game
Washington’s first preseason game is less than two weeks away; it will be a home game vs the Miami Dolphins on Friday, August 14th at 7:00 pm.
Week 1 game
The Commanders open the season on the road against the defending NFC East champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. The game will be played on Sunday, September 14th at 4:25 pm.
