The Daily Slop – 26 July 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
Tim Settle Appears Ready for Commanders Training Camp
After undergoing offseason foot surgery, defensive tackle Tim Settle was not among the players Washington placed on the PUP ahead of Wednesday’s first practice. Settle spent the offseason working his way back from the foot injury he sustained in December
last year that caused him to miss the rest of his second season in Houston.
Settle not being included with Trey Amos, Dorance Armstrong, and Deatrich Wise Jr. does not mean he is 100 percent. But clearly the non-designation indicates he has recovered enough to participate, even if the staff decides to limit his workload.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Bullock’s Film Room (this story is free to read from beginning to end)
This is a throwback link to an April 2026 article
Can Antonio Williams play the St. Brown role for David Blough?
Commanders general manager Adam Peters spoke after drafting Williams and said they feel he can play both outside and inside, or as he put it, both “the Z and the F”. The Z is the term for the outside receiver that lines up off the line of scrimmage while the F is a common term used for the slot receiver. The receiver that played this role in Detroit back in 2023 was Amon-Ra St. Brown. He was extremely productive in that role, catching 119 passes for 1515 yards and 10 touchdowns in that 2023 season. He actually got a four year, $120 million contract extension off the back of that season.
Now, that’s a high bar for Williams to meet and it’s not fair to expect him to be St. Brown right away. But when you watch how St. Brown went about his game in that 2023 Lions offense and then watch Williams, you can see some similarities.
In the games I watched, I didn’t get to see Williams run too many choice routes, though in 2024 he did run a few from the backfield in some interesting looks. But even in 2025, he showed the traits that suggests he could be a very good choice route runner.
I mentioned earlier that the Lions had two other very effective choice route runners in Laporta and Gibbs, so St. Brown had to be able to do other things. One of those things worked with choice routes.
If Williams can prove he can run choice routes and these pivot/return routes effectively, then the Commanders have a potentially very productive receiver on their hands. Those types of routes are very commonly used in the type of offense we’re expecting David Blough to run. But they’re not the only routes Williams would have to run, though the skills needed on those routes translates a lot to the other routes St. Brown ran with the Lions in 2023.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Heavy.com
Commanders warned off Stefon Diggs for 2 reasons
Most of those potential pitfalls involve how Diggs’ presence could block the path of other viable pass-catchers on the roster. Including 2026 NFL draft third-round pick Antonio Williams, who is already tipped to emulate an All-Pro in the style of offense Blough is expected to call.
Harrison pointed out that if the Commanders “want to elevate Antonio Williams over Stefon Diggs, they need to have the ability to do that knowing that there’s not going to be a veteran receiver in the locker room throwing a fit, pouting on the field, whatever it is that he might be able to do.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Hogs Haven
Washington Commanders Camp Battles: Luke McCaffrey vs. Jaylin Lane
While both McCaffrey and Lane should make the team unless one falls completely flat, playing time could be impacted by how this battle goes.
When comparing McCaffrey and Lane, their on-field production is similar thus far in their young careers. In McCaffrey’s first two seasons, he played in 26 games with 29 receptions on 39 targets, totaling 371 receiving yards and three touchdowns. McCaffrey’s 2025 season was unfortunately cut short after he suffered a broken collarbone against Seattle in Week 9.
McCaffrey’s special teams impact was also felt in 2025 on kickoffs, as he finished with the third-highest kickoff (29.6 yards) return average in the NFL.
Lane’s rookie campaign included 16 catches on 32 targets, finishing with 225 receiving yards in 15 games played. Lane’s impact was certainly felt more so on the punt-return team, as he finished 5th in the NFL in yards per return (13.7) along with two return touchdowns (tied for league-lead).
The underlying question remains: Does Washington have the roster space for two receivers who are also special teams returners?
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Hogs Haven
NFL players who made it from the roster fringe to the Super Bowl from 2020-2025
In the six Super Bowls from 2020 through 2025, 48/353 (13.6%) of the major contributors on offense and defense initially made their way onto their team from the roster fringes. The average Super Bowl roster contained four former roster-fringe players on offense or defense. The maximum number was eight (2020 Chiefs) and the minimum was two (2025 Patriots, 2020 Buccaneers). It is worth noting that the decision to only count seventh-round draft picks as roster-fringe was arbitrary. Had I included sixth-round picks, the percentage of former roster-fringe players would have been even larger.
The takeaway message from this analysis is, before anyone dismisses the chances of a seventh-round pick or UDFA making the final 53-man roster, remember, every one of the past 12 Super Bowl teams had at least two players who started out the same way making significant contributions on offense or defense.
Two of the roster-fringe players who made good during this period went on to become stars in the league. Several became starters or major contributors on offense or defense. Even more became important rotational players, backups or special teams contributors. To weather a 17-game season and emerge as a championship contender, an NFL team needs all of the above.
Now, let’s take a look at the journeys of a selection of these players from camp hopeful to the Super Bowl. We’ll end with five players who got their start with the Redskins or ended up on the Commanders’ roster.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Last Man Standig (paywall)
Commanders place trio of veterans on PUP list ahead of training camp
Cornerback Trey Amos, along with defensive linemen Dorance Armstrong and DE Deatrich Wise Jr. were placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on Saturday.
All three 2025 Week 1 starters last season were unavailable for the offseason program while recovering from injuries suffered during the 2025 campaign.
Another veteran, defensive tackle Tim Settle (foot) has been cleared and should be able to participate when Washington begins on-field work on Wednesday.
Those players were tested upon reporting to camp on Friday along with the Commanders rookie class. All players must report by Tuesday.
For more from Ben Standig, click here
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Every Touchdown from Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt’s Rookie Season
Look back at all eight of the rookie RB’s touchdowns in 2025
Podcasts & videos
WSH Gets PACKAGE of BAD News & GOOD News | 🏥WSH Injuries! 📈WSH Owner WINS Lebron! 👀Aiyuk! + More!
NFC East links
Articles
Big Blue View
5 areas where Jaxson Dart needs to improve
Simms summarized Dart this way:
Dart is a master of backyard football who can make magic happen but questions remain about the quarterback’s ability to thrive in the pocket heading into his second season.
One of Dart’s strengths is, of course, his ability to make plays with his legs. Cosell pointed out that this is a double-edged sword for young quarterbacks that often causes them to run before they need to.
“When quarterbacks can run, when they don’t see it the right way, they take off,” Cosell said. “And that disrupts your pass game and obviously as we saw last year, it caused problems for him in terms of injury.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Dart was the worst quarterback in the league last season in terms of allowed pressure — defined as pressures where the quarterback is fully or partly responsible for being pressured while attempting to pass.
Dart was at least partly responsible 39.1% of the time when pressured. Shedeur Sanders was second at 27.3%. Dart was at least partially at fault on 50 pressures. Only Maye (52) was responsible for more. Maye’s total, though, came on 234 dropbacks under pressure, while Dart’s came on 128 dropbacks under pressure.
One of the reasons for those self-allowed pressures? Leaving the pocket too soon, thus putting your blockers at a disadvantage because they don’t know where you are.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Bleeding Green Nation
Maybe NFL execs should look more at winning in evaluating Jalen Hurts
Somehow, someway, Jalen Hurts fell from No. 9 in 2025 to No. 17 in 2026.
There is no question that Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Matt Stafford and Lamar Jackson are among the best in the NFL. But are Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, Jared Goff and Caleb Williams really better than Hurts? Prescott, in terms of what he did last year (30 TDs vs. 10 INTs, 4,552 yards passing) has an argument. The others may not.
Let’s simplify things.
Let’s go with who of the previous 16 named above Hurts won more.
Of the 16 ranked above Hurts, only Mahomes, Stafford and Sam Darnold have won Super Bowls.
Hurts has a cumulative 22-13-1 record head-to-head against the previous 16 quarterbacks listed ahead of him. He is 5-3 in the postseason against those ahead of him and he’s a combined 8-2 against Stafford, Mahomes and Burrow.
You would think that would count for something, right?
Apparently, in the minds of some, winning does not.
It seems as if winning in this discussion goes ignored.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
3 reasons why the Dallas Cowboys should sign LB Bobby Wagner
Reason #1: Talent upgrade
Even at 36 years old, Bobby Wagner would immediately upgrade the position. He may not be the player he once was, but is still playing as one of the best off-ball LBs in the league. He earned an overall 78.6 PFF defensive grade, ninth among 88 qualified players at the position. His run-defense grade (93.3) ranked fifth and his pass-rush grade (92.4) ranked second. He did struggle in coverage, ranking 51st in the league with a 51.1 grade.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
