It’s been a long, long 12 months for the Washington Commanders. An injury-plagued 2025 season saw the entire NFL world suddenly dismiss the Commanders’ 2024 season and throw them back to the bottom of the barrel. That shift in support has put a rather large chip on the shoulders of the Commanders’ roster.
Several players have said people will be surprised by the Commanders in 2026, but what kind of surprise are we getting? Are we getting the kind of surprise that restores faith in the organization, or are we getting the kind of surprise that Commanders fans are used to? ESPN’s Dan Graziano named one surprise for all 32 NFL teams, and his surprise for Washington is not exactly the kind of surprise fans are hoping for.
Don't be surprised if ...
quarterback Jayden Daniels struggles to regain his brilliant rookie-year form.
What I'm hearing: This isn't about Daniels himself. He's an absolutely awesome player, and assuming he can get through the season healthy, I expect him to perform at a high level. It's what's around him that has me concerned. He has a thin and aging group of wide receivers. He has question marks at running back. And the offensive line issues, especially with left tackle Laremy Tunsil going down with a training camp injury, are too significant to overlook.
Earlier in the offseason, I was high on the Commanders' chances to rebound and contend in the NFC East. But the concerns that arose during camp are giving me pause. The fact that they have a young, first-time offensive coordinator in David Blough adds to the mystery (as, to be fair, it does with the first-time OC in Philadelphia and the first-time defensive coordinator in Dallas). There could be significant growing pains early in the season, if not longer. And even if things work out better than they look right now, Daniels' 2024 rookie season was one of the best we've ever seen. Washington could be pretty good and still not bounce back to that level.
First, let’s backtrack a minute. In 2024, Daniels dealt with adversity on the offensive line. Brandon Coleman, Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas, and others missed time with various injuries. So, 2026 won’t be the first time he’s dealt with varying offensive line rotations. The new system wants Daniels to stay in the pocket more often, but let’s not forget he knows how to use his legs, and he will when needed.
There were also injuries to Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler that season, although Daniels did have a consistent wide receiver corps to work with. And while two aging veterans anchor his current wide receiver group, they’re also really good at their jobs and working with the younger players on the roster to mentor them. It’s not the first time they’ll use a running-back-by-committee ground attack, either.
To be fair, Graziano isn’t wrong. We may not see the Daniels we saw in 2024, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t be successful. The idea behind David Blough’s scheme is that Daniels doesn’t have to carry the team on his shoulders. So it’s not that he won’t return to his 2024 form, but that he doesn’t have to use it in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Will Commanders' Jayden Daniels return to 2024 form in 2026?
