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The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders keep Brian Robinson Jr. out of preseason game amid trade speculation
With trade speculation mounting, running back Brian Robinson Jr. did not play in the Washington Commanders’ preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night, likely a sign that the team is looking to move on from him, either via trade or a release if it cannot find a trading partner.
Washington ranked third in average rushing yards per game last season — a marked turnaround after its almost run-less offense under Eric Bieniemy the year prior, when the 2023 Commanders
ran the ball a league-low 21.1 times per game. The issue last season: Washington’s quarterback was its leading rusher. The Commanders’ backs struggled late in the season as the team pushed for the sixth playoff seed in the NFC, leaving Jayden Daniels to lead both the pass and run games.
A third-round draft pick in 2022, Robinson is in the final season of his rookie contract and has a non-guaranteed $3.4 million base salary. The relatively minimal savings for the Commanders if they move on from him make it clear the value in doing so would be to turn to the future with their young and versatile backs.
ESPN
Notes from Washington Commanders camp
Location: Ashburn, Virginia
Dates visited: Aug. 2
One thing I saw: Spinner handoffs. A favorite of the Dolphins and Packers last season, spinner plays feature the quarterback handing the ball off from the gun while spinning in the backfield. Borrowed from single-wing and wing-T offenses, the spin allows the quarterback to bluff one handoff but execute another and can disorient opposing linebackers when dressed with more backfield eye candy. Here’s an example for the visual learners.
The Commanders want to have as disorienting a running game as possible. Without an elite back in the backfield, yet with a couple of tricky, movable players in WR Deebo Samuel and RB Austin Ekeler, they will benefit from a nontraditional handoff game that makes their jet motions and screens all the more dangerous. The most important part: having a quarterback who is also unlocked by read options and shifting backfields. With his smooth ballhandling and impossible quickness, Jayden Daniels is going to shine even brighter with these nifty backfield shenanigans forcing hesitations from unblocked defenders.
One thing I heard: Not only can I not find anyone who believes wide receiver Terry McLaurin will play for another team in 2025, I can’t find anyone who has a remotely plausible hypothetical in which McLaurin plays for another team in 2025. This section might better be called one thing I didn’t hear: a way McLaurin actually gets out of Washington. I strongly believe this standoff will end with a compromise extension before Week 1.
ESPN
2025 NFL preseason Week 2: Takeaways, analysis
Bengals: The defensive improvement under new coordinator Al Golden has been touted throughout the offseason and in training camp. But the group that has looked better in practice has not been able to translate that into two preseason games.
For the second straight contest, the starters were gashed for big plays. Washington rushed for 106 yards on its first two drives, including one drive by the Commanders’ backups. Cincinnati’s defensive players downplayed the struggles in the opener against the Eagles. But after a lackluster showing on Monday night, that play will be tougher to ignore. — Ben Baby
Commanders: The run game will survive without Brian Robinson Jr. It’s not as if Robinson has been an NFL standout, but he has been Washington’s starting back the past three seasons. His Commanders’ future is in serious doubt in part because of the depth and versatility displayed in the first two series’ Monday night.
Early in the game, Washington’s first run game looked excellent, hurting the Bengals in a variety of ways. Deebo Samuel gained 19 yards on a jet sweep; Chris Rodriguez Jr. squeezed through the middle for a 40-yard run; Jayden Daniels scored on a 14-yard run and Jacory Croskey-Merritt dashed for a 27-yard score. The line was excellent — rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and tight end John Bates, among others, threw key blocks. The pass game will remain a question mark until they get Terry McLaurin back on the field, but the run game was sharp. It’s a start. — John Keim
NFL.com
Bengals-Commanders 2025 NFL preseason, Week 2: What We Learned from Cincinnati’s 31-17 win
Burrow survives to lead two scoring drives. Monday’s saw Burrow and Co. struggle far more. He finished the evening with a 4-yard TD to Charlie Jones, but nothing came easy as he completed 9 of 14 passes for just 62 yards. The opening drive was a nine-play slog in which Chase Brown outmuscled Quan Martin for a 1-yard touchdown, but 30 yards and two first downs came on penalties against Washington. The second drive was flat-out frightening when Burrow circled and crisscrossed backward before he was sacked for a 17-yard loss. On the ensuing drive, Burrow was hammered for a 14-yard sack in which he fumbled. Ted Karras recovered and Washington was flagged for a horse collar. Eight plays later, Jones caught his TD and Burrow’s night ended. It wasn’t pretty. The Bengals offense is the overwhelming strength of the squad, so when all isn’t puppies and rainbows, there’s going to be nitpicking, because the Cincinnati defense has just been getting picked on.
Jayden makes everything better. Not all has been well in Washington, but Jayden Daniels changed the narrative and the vibes on Monday night, if only for one impressive series. Daniels taking the field provided excitement aplenty on its own when he made his 2025 preseason debut. Then he piloted the Commanders on a four-play, 74-yard sprint of a touchdown drive that he capped with a 14-yard touchdown run. Daniels didn’t even attempt a pass, but after big runs from Deebo Samuel and Chris Rodriguez Jr., Daniels dropped back to the Bengals 23-yard line before weaving forward through the trenches and sprinting for six, but not before he broke through a horrendous excuse for a tackle attempt from a Cincinnati defender. That was it. A cameo from the Commanders franchise quarterback. Heading into the game, Brian Robinson — a trade candidate — wasn’t suited up. Terry McLaurin — still seeking an extension — wasn’t there either. And starting guards Sam Cosmi and Brandon Coleman are dealing with injuries. Thus, for a club that had turned around decades of frustration last season with a run to the NFC Championship Game, things feel a bit precarious right now. With a burgeoning star like Daniels, though, anything seems possible heading into 2025.
Tinsley has a night. Already loaded at wide receiver, Cincinnati might have found another weapon in Mitchell Tinsley. An undrafted free agent who appeared in two games for the Commanders last season, Tinsley returned to Washington and had himself a night. Showing off stellar hands and leaping ability, Tinsley turned in five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns in the first half! His first score was a 13-yarder thrown to his outside shoulder in which he spun back to the outside for a high-point grab. He outdid himself on a 21-yard score with six seconds left in the second quarter when he once more went to the skies for a high ball that he pulled down while getting his feet inside the backline.
With Robinson absent, Commanders rushing attack flexes might. Washington’s new-look running game shot out of a cannon on Monday night and molly whopped Cincinnati. On the first play from scrimmage, Deebo Samuel’s first touch in a Washington uniform saw him run for 19 yards on a jet sweep. On the very next play, Chris Rodriguez Jr. cut outside beautifully, then darted back in for 40 yards. Two plays later, Jayden Daniels danced in for a 14-yard score. Not done imposing their will, the Commanders scored on their second drive when Bill Croskey-Merritt blasted off for a 27-yard touchdown. Over those first two drives, Washington ran the ball six times for 106 yards and 12 points. With the big news ahead of the game being the likely exit of Brian Robinson, the performances and potential of Rodriguez — heading into his third season — and the rookie Croskey-Merritt was apparent. Veteran Austin Ekeler was also on the sidelines taking it all in and providing further reason to believe that without Robinson, Washington’s run game — which returns the team’s 2024 leading rusher, Daniels — has plenty to offer.
Commanders.com
Instant analysis | Commanders show improvement in 31-17 preseason loss to Bengals
It was the first time that most of the Commanders’ starters were on the field, and as a result, things were better executed compared to the 48-18 loss to the Patriots. The first offensive play went to Deebo Samuel, who turned upfield on a jet sweep for a 19-yard gain. That set the tone for Washington’s ground game, as they rushed for 106 yards on their first six carries and 185 yards overall.
The defense, which had previously allowed the Patriots to score 41 points, also looked more efficient with the starters on the field. Running lanes were narrower for the Bengals’ staple of running backs, who finished the game with 89 yards on 27 carries, and the front put consistent pressure on Joe Burrow, bringing him down for a 17-yard loss.
Still, mistakes, as well as the sloppiness head coach Dan Quinn described after the team’s loss to the Patriots, popped up throughout the evening.
The Bengals got on the board first with a one-yard run by Chase Brown, but the Commanders helped them get there by committing a neutral zone infraction on fourth-and-short and a defensive pass interference call. The Commanders went from nearly getting Burrow off the field to being down 7-0 thanks to 30 penalty yards.
Pro Football Talk
Dan Quinn was excited to see Deebo Samuel run, less so for Jayden Daniels
“I was excited to see Deebo run,” Quinn said. “I’ve been on the other side of that and know what that movie looks like, so that was cool to see.”
But Quinn was asked after the game if he would tell Daniels that running the ball in the preseason isn’t necessary, and Quinn indicated he had already done so.
“You think those conversations haven’t already been told?” Quinn said with a laugh. “It is part of who he is, but it is one of the things we’ve worked on, to say when do you take your shots and when do you go. There will be more of that, at times I’ll say less of that.”
It was an impressive run from Daniels for the touchdown, but one that saw him take contact from a defender before scoring. In the regular season, that’s part of what makes Daniels special. In the preseason, Quinn probably would have preferred to see Daniels slide around the 5-yard line.
Washinston Post (paywall)
Jayden Daniels delivers a moment of panic — and magic — in preseason debut
Daniels danced out of the pocket and scrambled for a 14-yard touchdown to cap his preseason performance against the Bengals after just four plays.
During one dominant drive in Washington’s 31-17 loss in a preseason matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals at Northwest Stadium, Daniels provided momentary panic and sustained delight. He scrambled 14 yards through a massive opening and into harm’s way, inviting the singular disaster Washington vitally needed to avoid. He dodged a pair of defenders, breaking through Bengals safety Jordan Battle’s hapless tackle attempt as he crossed the goal line.
“I wanted to score,” Daniels explained in an ESPN interview during the game. Informed that everyone wanted him to slide, Daniels shrugged. “Yeah,” he said. “But then after, everybody cheered.”
Editorial/Opinion
Washington Post (paywall)
Terry McLaurin’s rare mix of leadership and talent is worth the money
How the Commanders are treating their star wide receiver is beyond embarrassing. He shouldn’t have to fight for his share.
Every day that the contract standoff with Terry McLaurin remains unresolved goes down as another day that Washington’s organizational vision feels like a fantasy. The people in charge have done a bang-up job selling the dream to the players and a rejuvenated fan base. Their words sound good in offseason sound bites or when the Commanders shock the NFL with a 12-5 record, but they haven’t put them into practice when stuff truly gets hard — such as when the Commander who most embodies their purpose wants to get paid.
It’s beyond bizarre and bordering on embarrassing that the Commanders haven’t awarded McLaurin with a contract extension to his liking. Since he arrived in Washington, McLaurin has acted like the kind of player the organization should want to build around. The player you wouldn’t mind sending to an elementary school, representing the employer in a burgundy-and-gold polo. Or the one standing up in front of what feels like the entire media market, answering hard questions.
The Commanders…had no problem paying a discount for the ghost of Von Miller to wear a Commanders jersey. Miller will cost Washington only about $6 million this year. He’s cheap because his production has fallen way down from his all-pro days in Denver. But he’s also problematic. Though he never was charged, Miller has been investigated for domestic violence in two cases. Last season, he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy; he had faced allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend.
Quick recap: Clipping coupons for an aging Von Miller, good. Paying market value for prime Terry McLaurin, bad.
On the surface, it might feel ruinous to pay McLaurin such money. But it feels even more destructive to overlook the player who has served as a bridge from the Daniel Snyder years to better days, the man who makes the word “Commander” no longer feel like a three-syllable erasure of past controversy but rather a noble description.
After decades of Washington existing as the NFL’s toxic child, the team’s new leadership should aspire to set a standard. To almost be counterculture in rewarding solid citizens who can help build chemistry — and not just dudes with good 40 times. By remaining at an impasse with McLaurin, the Commanders see the high price on character. And they’re saying it’s not worth it.
Podcasts & videos
Bengals Preseason Game Reaction; Brian Robinson Trade Rumors | John Keim Report
Jayden Daniels is PERFECT, But is a Brian Robinson Jr. Trade Coming? | Commanders Postgame
Jayden Daniels & The Washington Commanders Just MADE A STATEMENT… | Film Analysis |
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Commanders Game Highlights | 2025 Preseason Week 2
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Commanders vs. Bengals, preseason Week 2
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium during their Week 2 preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Report: Jonathan Mingo could miss 4-6 weeks with PCL injury
Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that early indications show that Mingo is dealing with a PCL injury that could sideline him for around four weeks.
As Harris points out in his article, there will still need to be further testing done to confirm the actual timeframe of when he could come back. Calvin Watkins stretches the timeframe to six weeks.
For those that wanted to see Mingo play with Dak Prescott and finally hit the ground running with a full offseason under his belt, it looks like you will have to wait a while longer.
In good news, it is also being reported that Jaydon Blue looks to be on track to play in the final preseason game.
Discussion topics
ESPN
NFL Power Rankings 2025: Who is under the most pressure?
In addition to our 1-32 ranking, NFL Nation reporters named one coach, player or executive on each team who is under the most pressure this season. Let’s start with the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Our power panel of more than 30 writers and editors evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Postdraft ranking: 2
Who’s under the most pressure: Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo
The Eagles are well-established, coming off a Super Bowl. But one significant change came at offensive coordinator, where Patullo replaced Kellen Moore and will serve as a full-time playcaller for the first time in his career. Patullo has been coach Nick Sirianni’s right-hand man since 2021, and the offense isn’t expected to change much, making for a smooth transition. But with so much offensive talent, the bar is high, and Patullo will absorb some of the heat if the unit doesn’t operate as expected. — Tim McManus
6. Washington Commanders
Postdraft ranking: 6
Who’s under the most pressure: Cornerback Marshon Lattimore
Washington traded multiple picks for him at the deadline last season, and a hamstring injury limited Lattimore to two regular-season games (and three in the postseason). He has played in only 26 games the past three seasons combined. Lattimore has looked better this offseason but needs to be durable and productive to earn a contract extension. — John Keim
18. Dallas Cowboys
Postdraft ranking: 19
Who’s under the most pressure: Coach Brian Schottenheimer
Now, this doesn’t mean the coach will be one-and-done at all. It’s just that there is a lot for a first-time coach to deal with for any job but especially with the Cowboys. Schottenheimer has the players buying into his message at the moment, but what happens if they lose a few games in a row? Will they continue to believe? They play in the same division as the two NFC finalists (Eagles and Commanders). They have a difficult schedule to close the season. All of it makes a fast start a must. — Todd Archer
29. New York Giants
Postdraft ranking: 32
Who’s under the most pressure: Coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen
The Giants went 6-11 in 2023 and 3-14 last season. Drafting a promising young quarterback in Jaxson Dart is nice, but they must win games. It’s a results-oriented business, and owner John Mara wants to see progress and improved results this season. And that’s a big reason Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback to begin the season. — Jordan Raanan
