Heading into the offseason, the Washington Commanders knew they needed to improve their pass rush. Washington struggled to rush the passer in each of head coach Dan Quinn’s first two seasons. Dorance Armstrong started 2025 strong until he tore his ACL in Week 7. Veteran Von Miller led the Commanders with nine sacks last season.
On the first day of free agency, general manager Adam Peters made significant moves to address Washington’s pass rush, starting with signing Chargers outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million deal. Next, it was signing Patriots outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson to a one-year deal worth $11 million and Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu to a one-year deal worth $4 million.
Washington then used a fifth-round
pick on raw but talented Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Commanders are 1-4-1, and the pass rush has been disappointing. Washington has 11 sacks through six games. Oweh leads with 3, while Chaisson has 2.5. Both have been outstanding against the run and made an impact, but the Commanders need more from them — and everyone else — as pass rushers.
At times, the lack of pass rush can partly explain Washington’s struggles in the secondary. After a week off, the Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night for a rematch of Week 1.
Head coach Dan Quinn, known for his ability to pressure opposing passers as a former defensive coordinator, said Washington can improve defensively, particularly the pass rush, coming out of the bye.
“I’m not pleased with where we’re at, but I also know there’s plenty to go,” Quinn said on Wednesday. “I’d love to see us, whether it’s blitzing, rush coverage together, really in sync with that. It’s one of our emphases that we have, coming out of the bye: how do we improve upon that? We got some stuff Monday. I was able to visit with that group some today. That’s an area that I love working with. So to be involved with that was a big deal for me. How do we put guys in the right spots, do the right things? And that was one of the topics that we spent a lot of time on.”
Philadelphia’s offensive line will look much different than it did in Week 1. Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson retired. Cam Jurgens was traded. There have been injuries. The Eagles could give the Commanders' pass rush a chance to get right on Sunday night.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders emphasize big change after bye week
