What is the story about?
What
are some of the real positives as the Washington Commanders approach their 2026 season?
As each season approaches, there are always positives and negatives. Depending on a person’s personality, they typically tend to emphasize one and minimize or exclude the other. We recently dealt extensively with injuries and offensive line woes in the final week of their scrimmage and preseason game vs. the Ravens.
What are the positives? Well, there are more than those on the outside lead you to believe.
Some positives for the Commanders offense approaching Week 1
- Jayden Daniels is fully healed after playing in only seven 2025 games and being injured four different times during the season. Daniels had a very productive training camp and has reportedly learned David Blough’s new offense very well.
- New offensive coordinator David Blough worked with the Commanders over the previous two years, particularly with quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.
- The signing of WR Stefon Diggs: Yes, he will be 33 in November. But the way he played last season, if he can produce 75 percent of that, what a boost he will be as a duo with Terry McLaurin. It’s only a one-year signing, so it should be viewed as a real positive for both McLaurin and Daniels.
- Having Brandon Coleman able to move directly into left tackle for the injured Laremy Tunsil. He is no Laremy Tunsil, but Coleman started 16 games at left tackle in 2024 and is a better LT2 than many NFL teams have.
- RG Sam Cosmi is ready and eager to go for 2026. Remember, Cosmi missed the first four games in 2025, recovering from an ACL tear in a January playoff win at Detroit. This year, Cosmi has been present through all of training camp and injury-free.
- Tight end group: Definitely stronger as John Bates returns, Chig Okonkwo was signed, and Ben Sinnott is a better fit in the offense that David Blough is now coordinating. Colson Yankoff had a camp that demonstrated he is developing.
- The Commanders didn’t have a good receiving running back in 2025. Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles tendon in Week 2 in a non-contact injury and was lost for the season. They do now, as Rachaad White came to the Commanders from the Buccaneers.
- The wide receiver group is definitely deeper than the 2025 group. The signing of Stefon Diggs and the drafting of Antonio Williams means Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, and Luke McCaffrey all move down one spot on your depth chart.
- Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota signed another one-year deal, so he is here with Jayden Daniels and David Blough for a third consecutive season. Continuity and depth at the most important position is certainly a positive circumstance for an NFL team.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders offense has several reasons to be optimistic for 2026
