The Daily Slop – 1 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
Washington Post (paywall)
Jayden Daniels returns to Commanders practice with left arm brace
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels practices Wednesday in Watford, England. (Alastair Grant/AP)
Quinn said the Commanders will increase Daniels’s reps as the week goes on and decide his game status Friday.
“We’re not going to put him out there
before he’s ready,” Quinn said. “That’s why it’s important for us to trust the process.”
If Daniels can’t go, Marcus Mariota will log his second straight start. He has completed 63.8 percent of his passes (19th in the NFL), averaged 6.3 yards per attempt (23rd) and thrown four touchdown passes over two appearances this season. He has avoided committing any turnovers and has helped the offense stay afloat — allowing Washington (1-2) to be patient with Daniels, even if the team’s record creates urgency.
“He’s always a person that’s in good spirits, but you can tell that, this being the second time around, he’s comfortable with where he’s at,” Mariota said. “… He’s really just trusting everybody around him. Everybody’s best interest is for the organization and for him, and we’re going to do all that we can to help support him.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Commanders Film Review: Run Defense Off To Strong Start
One of the biggest turnarounds on the Commanders defense this year compared to last season has been the run defense. After three games, the Commanders are currently ranked third in the NFL with an average of 82 yards per game surrendered on the ground. Last year, they ranked third worst, with an average of 141.8 rushing yards per game given up. That’s a 60 yard per game swing from last year, and for reference of how big that is, if the Commanders 2026 average of 82 yards per game continued over 17 games, it would have been the top ranked run defense in the NFL in 2025.
That’s a huge turnaround from last year, so how are the Commanders doing it? Well, the personnel certainly helps. General manager Adam Peters spent the offseason completely revamping the defensive front with new interior defensive lineman, new edge defenders and new linebackers. That definitely has played a big part of it, but another huge part of it is the scheme from new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
When Jones was hired, I wrote about how the Vikings defensive scheme that he’s brought to Washington had some key features. It starts on the back end. The Vikings, and now the Commanders, love to keep both safeties back deep prior to the snap. By keeping them deep, they can disguise their coverages and rotate either safety in either direction, or just play the core coverage concepts the team likes to use, which are quarters and Cover-2. In order to keep two safeties back deep, the defense has to make a sacrifice, which is playing light in the box.
When teams are being overwhelmed in the box, the number one solution to help stop the run is put a safety down in the box to reinforce the numbers and give the defense a numbers advantage. But if this scheme wants to keep both safeties deeper, then the front has to make up for that. So one of the other key features of this defense is the 3-4 front. The Vikings play it a lot and the Commanders are using it now too. In a 3-4 front, you get three big interior defensive lineman on the field as opposed to just two in a 4-3 front. On top of that, you have two outside linebackers playing the edge, which gives you five defenders on the line of scrimmage. It becomes much more difficult for offenses to run the ball into those types of fronts because it’s harder to generate double teams, and even when you do get those double teams, you have multiple big defensive lineman capable of occupying both blockers and keeping the linebackers clean behind them.
This has been one of the biggest keys to the Commanders success against the run so far this year. Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne were good against the run last year on the interior, but they played mostly in a 4-3 front and didn’t get enough support elsewhere. This year, Tim Settle has joined them as the nose tackle, and Shy Tuttle has rotated in behind Settle at times too. This gives them three big interior lineman that are capable of controlling the line of scrimmage. Let’s take a look at an example from the Seahawks game.
The Athletic (paywall)
Ranking the top-5 backup quarterbacks
2. Case Keenum, Chicago Bears: Lock may have the best stat line among the backup quarterback performances, but Keenum has the best storyline. It had been over 1,000 days since Keenum had started a game, thrown a touchdown pass or run for a touchdown. He checked off all of those boxes in primetime against an elite defensive coordinator and without much of a running game. Ben Johnson obviously deserves a lot of credit, but so does Keenum, who was particularly effective against the blitz.
1. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders: Since Mike Macdonald became their coach in 2024, the Seahawks have given up more than 30 points just three times: Week 5 last season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Baker Mayfield was making an early MVP case; Week 16 last season in an instant overtime classic against 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford; and last week, against Mariota and the Commanders. The final line wasn’t as impressive as Keenum or Lock, but considering the circumstances of the opponent, a mediocre running game and a rookie play caller, Mariota has a strong case as one of the best backups in the NFL.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
From ESPN:
There’s a strong chance Mariota starts Sunday in place of Jayden Daniels, who was limited in practice Wednesday with a dislocated left elbow. If that happens, then Mariota will have performed a meaningful trifecta for himself: starting football games in three iconic soccer stadiums.
The Commanders (1-2) play the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, home of the team of the same name. Mariota started at the Bernabeu Stadium last season (Real Madrid) and at Wembley, where the England national team plays, in 2019.
In those two games, Mariota lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on a failed two-point conversion at Wembley while playing for the Tennessee Titans; and to the Miami Dolphins in overtime last season. He has a chance to prove that the third time is, indeed, a charm Sunday.
To read more of this ESPN article, CLICK HERE
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Commanders Roundtable
3 matchups that could decide the game between Colts & Commanders in London
Commanders’ Reshuffled Offensive Line Holding Up in Pass Protection
This is where Washington is most vulnerable heading into London. The reshuffled line wasn’t perfect, but they got the job done.
Brandon Coleman continues to play well at left tackle. Sam Cosmi didn’t play against Seattle and will be missed again in London. It will come down to how well Nick Allegretti & Lucas Patrick hold up inside. The Commanders allowed some pressure in their first three games, and Mariota doesn’t have Jayden Daniels’ athleticism to escape a collapsing pocket. He needs time, clean reads and a line that can hold up for three to four seconds on passing downs. Expect Blough to use RPOs to help offset.
The good news is that Indianapolis ranks dead last in the NFL in total defense, allowing 417.3 yards per game, and ranks 32nd in pass defense. The pass rush isn’t going to generate elite pressure numbers consistently. But even a middling front can make life miserable against a patchwork offensive line. Washington’s linemen need to communicate well, stay sound in their sets, and give Mariota the clean pocket he needs to distribute the ball. A strong showing here would go a long way toward quieting concerns about the line’s durability.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Athlon Sports
Commanders Rookie Power Rankings
4. LB Joshua Josephs
Held quiet on the stat sheet through the first two games, Joshua Josephs unleashed against Seattle with five total tackles and one tackle for loss. Josephs was selected in the fifth round of the 2026 draft as more of a developmental project rather than immediate starter. Now with Leo Chenal out for the year and Frankie Luvu’s status for Week 4 still uncertain, Josephs has the opportunity to make an impact on the field. His impressive wingspan and tackling abilities brought him to the Commanders but we’re still waiting to see a full display of it in a regular season game.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Riggo’s Rag
6 soaring Commanders already giving coaches the right kind of problem
K’Lavon Chaisson – Commanders OLB
- Problem: Pay or not pay?
K’Lavon Chaisson was willing to bet on himself this offseason. The New Orleans Saints offered him more years, but the edge rusher believed signing a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders could help him earn a much bigger payday in 2027.
He’s off to a good start.
Chaisson has one sack, two run stops, and eight pressures over the first three games. The LSU product is doing a lot of good work that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, and his partnership with big-money signing Odafe Oweh has been profitable so far.
Javon Kinlaw – Commanders DL
- Problem: Flash in the pan, or the start of something special?
[T]he front-office leader’s faith in the South Carolina product never wavered. It’s early days, but Kinlaw is starting to repay this faith.
Fans are taking notice. But whether this performance surge is a flash in the pan or the start of something special is debatable until further notice.
Kinlaw is off to the best possible start. He’s Washington’s best-performing interior defensive lineman through three weeks. If he can keep up this consistency throughout the entire campaign, the 2020 first-round pick will get to see out the final year of his deal.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Wire
Austin Ekeler’s role on the 2026 roster remains unclear
Ekeler’s role is unclear. Over the past two years, Kliff Kingsbury has led Washington’s offense. He’s gone. David Blough is the new offensive coordinator. Ekeler knows Blough, too, as he has been on Washington’s staff since 2024.
The Commanders signed White to handle Ekeler’s role in the passing game. He’s done well through three weeks. That doesn’t mean Ekeler will take White’s snaps. He could serve in several roles, including as an early-down running back or kickoff returner. While Croskey-Merritt is easily the most explosive back on the roster, he sometimes hits the hole too fast and shows a lack of patience. Ekeler has elite patience and vision.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL coaches on the hot seat: Who’s really in trouble and who could turn things around?
The Commanders need more from their defense, yet that unit has proved inconsistent and unreliable despite Quinn’s background as a defensive coordinator. October, which features dates with the Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles before a Week 7 bye, could serve as a truth-teller for Quinn and his coaching staff.
Why he might be OK: The win over Seattle represented a much-needed bright spot and also provided glimpses of what the team could become. A previously largely toothless defense generated multiple takeaways. Mariota delivered three touchdown passes. The run game remains underwhelming, but if Quinn can coax his players toward gradual improvement and competitive performances in spite of their limitations, his job security could improve.
[From Bill-in-Bangkok: I don’t think DQ’s seat is really all that warm. I think it would take a collapse similar to 2025 for Josh Harris to pull the trigger on Quinn. Absent that kind of meltdown, I fully expect DQ to be back in 2027, which is a season that could be pivotal to his future with the franchise.]
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
NFL Week 4 Schedule 2026: Ranking All 16 Games From Worst to Best
14. Colts (1–2) vs. Commanders (1–2)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Where to watch: NFL Network
The Colts and Commanders will head across the pond this weekend for the first of three NFL games in London this season. While the stand-alone, international aspect is probably what’s most notable about this matchup, both teams did notch their first wins of the year last week, somewhat quieting the noise surrounding their head coaches’ job security. Indianapolis overcame a fourth-quarter collapse against the Texans thanks to Daniel Jones leading a game-winning drive that ended in a 53-yard Spencer Shrader field goal, while Marcus Mariota took over for Jayden Daniels and led Washington to an upset win over the Seahawks. Still, this one doesn’t have quite the oomph it would have if Daniels were under center.
1. Broncos (2–1) at 49ers (3–0)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CBS
We’ve got somewhat of a Shanahan Bowl on our hands this Sunday afternoon, as Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers will face off against the Broncos—who were coached by Kyle’s father, Mike, from 1995 to 2008. Denver won two Super Bowls during Shanahan’s tenure and is now looking to add another Lombardi to the trophy case in 2026. They’re on the right track with a 2–1 record and a come-from-behind win over the Rams under their belt, but will run into a buzzsaw this weekend. The 49ers enter Week 4 at 3–0 with wins over the Rams, Dolphins and Cardinals, and quarterback Brock Purdy is playing some of the most efficient football of his career—leading the NFL with a 133.1 passer rating. Even amid an influx of injuries, San Francisco looks like a true contender through three weeks.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL Week 4 ATS picks
Season record: 19-28-1 against the spread, 4-11 on best bets
Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) vs. Washington Commanders (London) | 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, NFL Network
The Commanders will stack the box to try to stop Jonathan Taylor, but I have confidence in Daniel Jones to make enough throws to win and cover the spread. Yes, the Commanders are coming off a win, but the Seahawks outgained them by 2.7 yards per play (6.8-4.0).
The pick: Colts
[From Bill-in-Bangkok: I’m simply stunned that the Colts are getting money giving away points to the Commanders. It seems to me that Washington should be favored by at least a field goal in this game. I guess the 19-28-1 record against the spread for Vic Tafur in this column isn’t hard to understand with picks like this one and last week’s when he took the Seahawks at -7.5 and Week 1 when he advised to bet the Eagles at -5.5.]
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Podcasts & videos
Who Will Make It A ROYAL Matchup Against The Colts? 🇬🇧 | Film Breakdown | NFL
The District Film Room: Week 3: Coverage Breakdown
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Full details on Cowboys trade for CB Joey Porter Jr.
The Cowboys are sending a second-round pick and a sixth-round pick to the Steelers, but the years on them are important. The sixth is next year while the second isn’t until 2028.
It is a massive win that the Cowboys were able to hold on to their second-round pick in 2027, especially given that they are (we all assume) going to have to give Porter Jr. a new deal on top of the trade. They have a small amount of draft capital next year as a whole, so keeping the second is a big deal for the short-term window.
Keep in mind that Pittsburgh now owns (as far as the 2027 NFL Draft) Dallas’ third- (Broderick Jones), fifth- (George Pickens), and now sixth-round (Joey Porter Jr.) selections. Although original reporting suggested that the sixth involved was conditional, Archer didn’t mention anything on that. As noted this is a bit of a fluid situation.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
NFL in-season trade grades: Joey Porter Jr. to Cowboys, J.J. McCarthy to Giants
It’s easy to see what the Cowboys are doing here. DaRon Bland, who first broke onto the scene as a slot corner, was playing on the outside given Dallas’ lack of depth. By acquiring Porter, Bland can move back inside, which will allow the Cowboys to relocate 2026 first-round defensive back Caleb Downs, as well. He has been playing the slot, but his natural position is at safety. These are options, not guarantees. Bland might stay outside as the Cowboys instead pursue a strong 1-2 punch at outside corner, with Porter shadowing WR1s.
The salient point is this: Porter can have a rising tide impact on the Cowboys secondary, clarifying the roles of other players and enhancing the whole unit in the process.
Porter is not as tricky of a scheme fit in Dallas as people think, too. His strengths are certainly his length and physicality, such that he can line up in press — but he has been in press alignments on only 30.6% of his snaps over his career, just above the league average for cornerbacks (24.1%). Porter is a much better man coverage defender than he is in zone, as his passer rating allowed in man coverage over the past four seasons is better than all but Derek Stingley Jr. But the Cowboys are actually running more man coverage (24.8%) under first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker than the league average (23.2%) over the first three weeks.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Big Blue View
How Giants are adjusting to J.J. McCarthy trade
McCarthy isn’t expected to play in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, but there is reason to believe he will be the starting quarterback at some point during the year. Likely spoke about how the Giants are bringing him up to speed.
McCarthy was acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for a fifth-round pick earlier this week, giving the Giants another signal caller to help them after losing Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury.
It’s not easy for a quarterback to join a new team in the middle of a season, but the Giants are eager to learn more about their new teammate.
“I didn’t know much about J.J. Obviously know that he was drafted high, winning quarterback, won when he was at Michigan. Tough runner, tough player, and I’ve seen him a little bit during a team meeting. But going to learn more about him as the week goes on,“ Giants tight end Isaiah Likely said.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Upcoming opponent – Colts
Commanders next game is in London vs Indianapolis on Sunday at 9:30 am
Stampede Blue
Colts’ Week 3 QB Analysis: One Step Back
Note from Bill-in-Bangkok: For those that are looking for statistical analysis, this article is DENSE with stats and FILLED with graphs and charts — enjoy!
Run game efficiency was about average, but the Colts leaned heavily on the pass in early-down situations. (18th ARSR; 2nd EDP)
Jones faced a lot of pressure, but got the ball out fairly quickly with average depth. This points to an O-line that struggled to protect. (9th PR%, 21st TIP; 19th TTT; 17th ADOT)
The passing game did not generate much after the catch or turn those completions into yardage. (25th AY/C; 20th YAC; 26th YCOE; 26th YD/C)
Jones’ completion rate was OK, but the completions themselves weren’t especially productive. (15th AC%; 19th CPOE; 23rd AYPA)
Four sacks, only one scramble and one throwaway meant too many pressured plays ended badly rather than being salvaged or discarded. (23rd SCR%; 25th TA%; 5th SCK%; 16th AA%)
That left Jones toward the bottom of the league in net yardage efficiency and first-down generation. (27th NY/D; 26th NY/P; 23rd 1ST%)
The biggest problem was the damaging plays: Jones produced only one passing touchdown while turning the ball over three times — an interception and two lost fumbles on sacks. (27th TD%; 3rd TO%)
Overall, he was about average at sustaining positive plays, but the negative plays pushed his total value much lower. (17th QBSR; 23rd EPA/P)
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
SB Nation
Adetomiwa Adebawore is an AFC Week 3 Secret Superstars
Before Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, the 2026 Indianapolis Colts’ defense most closely resembled several large dumpsters, on fire, crashing into each other. The Colts ranked dead last in the NFL in both yards per play allowed (7.25) and EPA per play allowed (+0.245), and they were scraping the bottom of the barrel in most other meaningful defensive metrics.
So, Sunday’s 19-17 win over the Texans was a nice balm for Lou Anarumo’s group. Indy allowed 223 net yards on 51 plays, and their 4.4 YPP and -0.11 EPA/Play were both infinitely better than previous results. One reason for this was the pass rush — the Colts blitzed on just 12.9% of their snaps, but they pressured C.J. Stroud 32.7% of the time.
And nobody drove the pressure plan better than Adetomiwa Adebawore, the fourth-year, fourth-round man from Northwestern who went off with 1.5 sacks and four total pressures in just 13 pass-rush snaps. When the 6’2”, 282-pound Adebawore was on the field, he was an absolute destruction machine, and he did some nasty things to Texans guards Wyatt Teller and Keylan Rutledge.
And maybe Adebawore should be on the field more — per Sumer Sports, the Colts allowed 3.67 yards per play and -0.518 EPA per play when he was out there. Without him? 4.67 yards per play and +0.066 EPA per play.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Stampede Blue
Sports Illustrated
3 Colts Players Who Could Give the Commanders Problems in Week 4
Colts Threat No. 2: Tyler Warren
While the Commanders’ defense has surprisingly held the line on the ground, their pass defense hasn’t held up as well. And while Indianapolis’ receiving room looks a little weaker than usual with Alec Pierce out for the next month, Tyler Warren could tear the secondary to shreds if they’re not careful.
He’ll be up against a mixed bag of Washington linebackers and safeties who’ve varied wildly in success as assigned defenders. While newcomers like Sonny Styles have already learned to resemble seasoned veterans as versatile deterrents, other secondary options like Quan Martin and Jeremy Reaves may find themselves in trouble if they have to make the defining, play-ending tackle on a runaway tight end.
Warren’s earned more and more targets with each passing week from Daniel Jones, leaving the door open for the massive receiver to put Washington’s defense on its heels if Taylor gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
3-0 Vikings are a game away from a dubious record
The Vikings have scratched and clawed their way to a 3-0 record. Dating back to last year, Minnesota has won eight in a row.
They’ve done it with defense and special teams. Their offense, to date, has not been good enough.
Via NBC Sports research, the Vikings could become the first team in the Super Bowl era to win four straight games without gaining 250 or more yards.
Currently, the Vikings have the worst offense in the NFL, with an average output of 238.3 yards per game. (The Titans rank 31st, with 249.3.)
Yes, the Vikings are prevailing in the only stat that matters: points scored vs. points allowed, one game at a time.
The offense nevertheless needs to improve.
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
The five teams with the best chance to land the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft
5. Arizona Cardinals: I really don’t think the Cardinals are that bad of a team, but take a look at the schedule and see if you can find many wins. This past weekend feels like a good representation of this year’s Cardinals, where they play a true contender tough but end up piling up the loss column.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This is the inverse situation from the Cardinals, where I feel like this is a pretty bad team but it’s hard to see them lose enough games to really be in contention for the top pick because, as Todd Bowles reminded us, they play in a dreadful division. But it is becoming harder to ignore that zero in the win column, especially with the starting quarterback now injured. By the way, if your head coach is standings-watching in September to find silver linings, things are not going well.
3. Los Angeles Chargers: There’s no shame in losing to the Bills. But losing to any NFL team when you win the turnover margin by four is a complete indictment of the football team, and especially the coaching staff.
2. Tennessee Titans: There is no benefit to turning to Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback, but excuses are starting to dwindle for whatever Cam Ward is doing out there. Missing wide-open receivers in the end zone is one thing, but appearing to stop playing in the middle of the play is hard to stomach.
1. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins don’t have many players that would easily be a plug-in starter on most teams around the NFL, but De’Von Achane was one of them. Now he’s out for the season, and 0-17 feels in play.
Not Ranked — Houston Texans: Ah, yes, the only zero-win team we didn’t mention. Their first two losses were against teams that could be near the top of the AFC standings at the end of the season. Last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts is a different story. They were without star wide receiver Nico Collins, though, who could be returning. Plus, their next seven games offer an opportunity to be a .500 team by Thanksgiving.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
