The Daily Slop – 4 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
Last Man Standig (paywall)
Commanders roster math: 15 offensive players, three positions and an NFL-high total
Along with McNichols, cornerback Trey Amos is eligible to come off IR before next week’s game against the Giants.
Washington
elevated LB Ale Kaho for the third time this season on Saturday. That means he must clear waivers the next time the Commanders seek to bring him off the practice squad — or Washington must sign him directly to the 53. You need an open roster spot for that.
It’s worth wondering which, if any, of these 15 players would lose their spot on the 53 if the staff looked to this oversized group to free up a spot. There are no clear candidates. The bottom of the RB room (Allen) and WR room (McCaffrey, based on his inactive status for Weeks 1-2) includes recent draft picks under this regime with specific value.
It’s also worth wondering which, if any, of these players were one Chenal injury away from being in roster trouble when Washington knew Ekeler would be coming back in his No. 30 jersey.
For more from Ben Standig, click here
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Commanders Roundtable
3 key players to watch when the Washington Commanders face the Indianapolis Colts in London
DT DeForest Buckner
If there is one player that the Commanders have to keep in check on Indy’s defense, it’s defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The two-time All-Pro has been one of the best defensive linemen since he was drafted back in 2016. At 32, he shows no signs of slowing down, leading the team with three sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hits, and tied for third in tackles. With guard Sam Cosmi not traveling with the team due to a concussion, it will be a challenge to keep him out of the backfield. Guards Chris Paul and Nick Allegretti, and center Lucas Patrick, need to be at their best.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Sports Illustrated
10 Commanders Quotes That Define Washington Entering Week 4 vs. Colts
Daronte Jones — Sonny Styles is “ahead of schedule”
Question: “Coach, one more on Sonny. I know you talked about not wanting to have to speed up his growthif you don’t have to. Where is his growth now compared to where you hoped it would be before you got to see him in a regular-season game?”
He’s probably a little ahead of schedule, if I’m being honest with you. He’s ahead of schedule, which is not really surprising based off of if you got to know him in the offseason in terms of just the draft process, and you kind of see how cerebral he is and how serious he is, how mature he is in terms of how he takes the craft. A lot of young guys, they don’t honor the craft until three years in, which he came in-again, his professionalism or working to be a professional is why you see the learning curve shortening a little bit. And so you just have to stay the course. Don’t read the news clippings and just keep pressing forward.
[Note from Bill-in-Bangkok: Terry McLaurin is reportedly likely to miss today’s game, but I really loved this quote below, which I saw for the first time in this article. If Terry doesn’t play today, the quote still applies to his play every other week.]
8. Marcus Mariota — Terry McLaurin’s 50/50 balls are “80/90 for us”
Question: On his tight-window throws to Terry McLaurin and giving a receiver an opportunity.
“Well, with Terry, those 50/50 contested are more, 80/90 for us. And he’s done it constantly through his career. I think he’s arguably one of the best contested receivers in the NFL. And I know if I just give him a chance, he’s gonna come down with it more times than not. But a lot of credit is due to him. To create separation, he has to find different edges, create advantages, and he constantly finds that little bit of separation. And so, there’s a lot of trust that goes into it. Terry’s the ultimate pro. He’s always asking questions about how I’m seeing things, where he can be better in his routes. And for a quarterback, that just makes you feel very, very comfortable when you throw him ball. And the more that we can continue to build that, he’s always gonna be there for us.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Riggo’s Rag
Austin Ekeler’s Commanders return gains urgency after Rachaad White setback
White is dealing with a shoulder injury and has been ruled out for the Commanders’ contest against the Colts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Washington will continue to lean on Jacory Croskey-Merritt and maybe Kaytron Allen as rushers, but Ekeler will take on most of the Arizona State product’s responsibilities.
In 2024, Ekeler’s last healthy season, he racked up more than 700 yards of total offense and earned All-Pro honors as a kick returner. The 10th-year pro’s speed and agility might not be what they once were, but he’s a sure-handed weapon who can grab you a few yards when you need them.
White was supposed to be a dynamic dual-threat back for the Commanders, but he only has 51 receiving yards on nine catches through three games. He could still build on that upon his return, but in the meantime, Blough may want to use Ekeler to get that part of the offense going.
Ekeler might not get more than a handful of touches in his first game in more than a calendar year, but he’ll need to make the most of them. The Colts are one of the league’s weaker defenses thus far, so it will be a solid opportunity to ease him in.
The Western Colorado product isn’t back in Washington to be a hero, but the Commanders hope he can at least do enough to spark something.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders hope to make spear ‘W’ their primary logo
Before every home game at Northwest Stadium last season, the lights dimmed and the video “What is a Commander?” played on the video boards.
The Commanders took it a step further this year. First, they quietly unveiled an altered team shield, with two spears crossing through it, which it featured prominently on its website ahead of the NFL Draft.
Then in the preseason, the team, again without any announcement, blared its fight song with the line “Braves on a warpath” — a line it removed years earlier from its fight song to eliminate any Native American reference.
And last weekend, ahead of the Commanders’ home opener against the Seahawks, the team debuted “The Show,” an 18-minute in-stadium production that included a film narrated by Emmy-winning actor Jon Bernthal and featured Commanders players holding a large gilded steel spear.
It culminated with “Spike the Spear,” a crowd-hyping ritual the team first tested (see the trend?) with Green ahead of the team’s Week 6 game against the Bears last season. Before the Seattle game, former star linebacker London Fletcher carried out a large gold spear and pumped up fans before he firmly planted it on a makeshift pedestal.
The crowd erupted.
“Everyone is enjoying what we’re doing, which is embracing the past as much as we can in a respectful way,” said Harris, who bought two rounds of beer for the thousands of fans at the team rally. “We’re going to keep looking at how we keep doing that.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL Week 4 picks, predictions: ATS, over/under expert bets for Sunday’s schedule
Colts vs. Commanders (London)
David Bearman’s stats and trends
- Low-scoring in London: Twelve of the last 17 London games have gone under the total.
- Commanders total trend: This is the 12th game Jayden Daniels has missed over the last two seasons. The over has hit in nine of the previous 11.
- Colts’ struggling defense: They are 30th in scoring defense (30.3 PPG), last in total defense (417.3 yards per game), 29th in rush defense (141.3) and 30th in pass defense (276.0).
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Podcasts & videos
HC Dan Quinn Previews Colts Vs. Commanders | Washington Commanders | The Gameplan | NFL
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles thoughts heading into Rams game
The red flag of yellow flags
In my preview of the Rams, I noted that they had the best penalty differential in 2025, which was unlikely to repeat itself in 2026. The Eagles, coincidentally, had the worst. Through three games the Rams have most definitely not repeated their success: they have the worst penalty differential, with -13 total penalties and -105 penalty yards. The Eagles are 18th.
Half of the Rams penalties were last week against the Broncos, but in each of their first two games they had double the amount of their opponent, so this wasn’t just a one week thing. There’s no guarantee that this trend will continue, if anything they’re due for a game where they have a positive differential, but it is one reason among several why they’re 1-2 to start their supposed dream season.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
This may not be Dak Prescott’s week
Prescott has been very good through three games. He has completed 73 of 105 passes for 730 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception, giving him a 69.5% completion rate and a 107.2 passer rating. Those are excellent numbers, and they are a big reason Dallas has been able to score 29.3 points per game despite its 1-2 record.
The problem is that Houston presents a much different challenge than the defenses Dallas has faced recently. The Texans have already recorded 11 sacks through three games, which ranks fourth in the NFL, while Dallas has allowed only three sacks. Houston’s ability to generate pressure without needing to completely abandon coverage is what makes this matchup particularly interesting for Prescott.
Will Anderson Jr. has been at the center of that pass rush, and Houston also has Danielle Hunter and other experienced pieces capable of creating pressure from different spots.That means Prescott may not have the same time to operate that he has enjoyed during portions of the first three weeks.
The other reason to sell Prescott this week is simply that the Texans’ defense is good enough to force Dallas into some uncomfortable situations. If the Cowboys fall behind early, Houston’s pass rush could become even more important because Dallas would have fewer opportunities to lean on Javonte Williams and the running game.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Revenge of the Birds
5 Good Questions with Big Blue View
Who is going to be counted on most to help negate the loss of Brian Burns?
Well, former No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter is going to have to assert himself. Kayvon Thibodeaux will play more. Maybe Arvell Reese will be used more as a rusher. It is going to be incumbent upon defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, though to be more creative than he has been over the first three weeks to put rushers in better situations.
The Cardinals are slight road favorites, Is that more a concern about the Giants offense or defense in your opinion?
I don’t know. It is a bit of a surprise to me. Still, the Giants have lost their quarterback and their best defensive player the past two weeks. It’s probably a bit of both. The Giants are coming off a game in which they scored only 12 points, so I get the concern on that side.
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 fans expect Indy to win in London
With Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels already ruled out, and backup Marcus Mariota starting in his place again, this feels like a game that the Colts need to win to maintain their realistic AFC playoff hopes, still looking to dig their way out of an early 0-2 hole.
For what it’s worth, 57% of Colts fans believe that the team will win on Sunday morning in London:
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
Colts WR Keenan Allen (groin) out vs. Commanders in London
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders in London with a groin injury, further depleting the team’s depth at the position.
Allen was unable to practice Friday after developing the groin issue in recent days. He has 13 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in three games, second in yardage on the team behind Josh Downs.
Allen’s injury further complicates things at wide receiver for the Colts, who are already without No. 1 wideout Alec Pierce (heel). Pierce remains on injured reserve for an undetermined length of time. He must miss at least three more games before being eligible to return.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL.com
Colts’ Cam Bynum ahead of his fourth international appearance: These are ‘always my favorite games’
Cam Bynum boasts an impressive track record in international games heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Commanders at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Colts safety has made three previous international appearances — two in London with the Vikings and another in Germany last year for Indianapolis — and has come away 3-0 with 17 tackles, two passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble.
What has contributed to such a boost overseas for the 28-year-old? He believes a lot of it boils down to the atmosphere.
The Colts will need Bynum at his best again for Sunday’s matchup, an opportunity for them to get back to .500 after stumbling out of the gate to an 0-2 start. Indy’s opening two losses included the defense allowing an NFL-worst 74 points and 1,029 yards, the second-most yards given up through the first two games of a season in league history.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
NFL Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fines Drop Sharply for Week 3 Games
NFL players may have gotten the message sent by the league with its onslaught of fines for unsportsmanlike conduct in the season’s second week.
Only five players were fined by the NFL for violations related to unsportsmanlike conduct in Week 3 games. The league announced those fines Saturday.
The Panthers’ Lee Hunter was fined $10,174 for taunting; the Patriots’ Mack Hollins and the Giants’ Abdul Carter were fined $11,941 apiece for taunting; and the Broncos’ Quinn Meinerz and Jaylen Waddle were fined $14,926 each for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts.
Waddle and Meinerz were fined for pretending to roll dice following Waddle’s catch on a successful two-point conversion attempt during the Broncos’ win last Sunday night over the Rams in Denver.
The latest number contrasts with last Saturday, when the NFL announced 22 fines totaling $300,089, doled out to 13 different players for unsportsmanlike conduct violations during Week 2. Of those 22 fines, 13 were for illegal celebrations and vulgar acts, five for obscene gestures, and four for taunting.
An NFL Players Association spokesman shared a statement with Front Office Sports last Saturday that the union was working with the league to resolve Week 2 fines to players for celebrations supposedly involving pretend beer-chugging. The NFLPA said the players and the union had not been informed previously that such celebrations would be subject to fines.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Discussion topics
The Ringer
The Eagles need to let Howie Roseman clean house
How wild is it that Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni—who has two Super Bowl appearances, one Lombardi, and the fourth-best winning percentage of any 60-plus-game head coach in league history—so obviously needs to be fired? Shane Steichen helped Sirianni to his first Super Bowl before he was hired away to coach the Colts. Brian Johnson, who was Steichen’s immediate replacement as offensive coordinator and was promoted from within Sirianni’s regime, was a laughingstock for a year. Kellen Moore helped Sirianni win his second Super Bowl appearance before the Saints made Moore a head coach in 2025. Last year, Kevin Patullo ran a version of Sirianni’s offense with A.J. Brown that sucked, and now new OC Sean Mannion is running a different version of the same Sirianni offense without Brown, and it still sucks. Philly ranks 25th or worse in EPA per drive and success rate after games against the Commanders (!), Titans (!!), and Bears (!!!)—three of the league’s bottom-10 defenses.
Sirianni has been lucky to have Roseman’s roster and multiple über-talented coaches under his tutelage, including Steichen, Moore, and longtime defensive mastermind Vic Fangio. But Sirianni got the chance to work with Fangio only because Vic didn’t really vibe with Mike McDaniel in Miami. (Huh. And Fangio is a longtime Jim Harbaugh colleague and friend. Interesting.) And Jeff Stoutland, the beloved offensive line coach at the center of their Super Bowl runs, quit coaching altogether last year because of his frustrations with Sirianni’s offense. Stoutland isn’t walking through that door, Fangio is working with the worst front seven the Eagles have had since before COVID, and Mannion will go down like the rest of Sirianni’s bad OC hires if they can’t figure things out fast. But the take isn’t that Sirianni and his staff need to be fired. It’s that everyone but Roseman needs to go, including quarterback Jalen Hurts.
[W]ho exactly should get blamed when Hurts throws a near interception and then an interception to the same linebacker on near-identical coverage drops?
Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards got a little X famous for “listening” to the play call before the interception, but he later admitted that he didn’t really hear anything. He didn’t have to. He had shown blitz while lined up at the line of scrimmage on a third-and-5 earlier in the game, ran back into coverage post-snap to get in front of a short in-breaker, and dropped an easy interception. The play above was on fourth-and-5. Edwards didn’t need to listen to the play call because DC Dennis Allen already knew what was coming. Allen knew Hurts wasn’t going to do his homework post-snap and instead would just throw whatever he thought would be open right at the sticks. Edwards backed out of the blitz look (again) and got both mitts on Hurts’s pass again, only this time Edwards caught it.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
