A rough few weeks have turned the 2026 Washington Commanders into an easy target.
The latest round of skepticism has them pegged by several national voices to finish last in the NFC East this season - yes, even behind the New York Giants. That chatter picked up after left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps on Aug. 8, then got louder after Washington’s joint practice with the Ravens.
On a recent edition of “ First Things First,” Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Danny Parkins all went with Washington at the bottom of the division after seeing Nicki Jhabvala’s X post on Aug. 26, which described the Commanders’ offensive line as “inoperable” during that Ravens practice.
“I don’t like their weapons. The offensive line is banged up. They have a bad defense,” Wright said.
The offensive line concern is easy to understand. Tunsil’s injury matters, and the unit did not look settled against Baltimore.
But the defense? That feels like a leap.
Washington spent real money on that side of the ball this offseason and brought in Daronte Jones, Brian Flores’ top lieutenant, as its new defensive coordinator. It may end up being bad, but calling it that now is more guesswork than analysis.
The weapons argument also deserves a second look. This is the strongest group of offensive options quarterback Jayden Daniels has had since entering the NFL in 2024. It’s even being framed as better than the 2024 group that went 12-5.
Broussard pointed to the same concerns.
“I would love to see Jayden Daniels have a bounce-back year, terrific year, but that offensive line with Laremy Tunsil is now out with a triceps tear. I think they’re gonna struggle, and I think the defense isn’t that great either,” Broussard said.
Again, the line is fair game. The defense being dismissed so quickly is not.
Last year’s struggles do not automatically carry over, especially after Washington invested heavily and changed coordinators. That same logic seems to get applied differently elsewhere, too.
Parkins took the harshest swing, naming Dan Quinn as a leading candidate to be the first coach fired.
“The Washington Commanders are in trouble, and I think Dan Quinn should be the heavy favorite to be [the] first coach fired,” Parkins said. “When you need to keep your quarterback healthy, and you have a bad offensive line, and Laremy Tunsil goes down, that is just a very bad recipe.”
Quinn is under pressure in 2026, no question. Washington’s first six games are a brutal opening stretch, and a slow start would only crank up the heat. Still, the full panic feels premature when the starting offensive line - outside of Tunsil - hasn’t had sustained time together.
That matters. Sam Cosmi was sick during the Ravens’ practice, and center Nick Allegretti was out. Offensive line play is built on timing and cohesion, and Washington is still sorting out pieces: Brandon Coleman played left tackle in 2024, Allegretti was the left guard and now slides to center in place of Tyler Biadasz, Chris Paul is at left guard, and Josh Conerly Jr. is now the right tackle.
On paper, that group does not look drastically different from the 2024 offensive line. Once it gets time to work together, it could end up looking a lot better than the current national mood suggests.
For now, though, the Commanders are the team everyone seems happy to count out before Week 1. That should give Daniels and company plenty of motivation.
In Other News...
Commanders Face One Big Week 1 Problem Before Brutal Start
The early stretch of Washingtons 2026 schedule leaves little room for easing in, and the Commanders are already dealing with a familiar kind of September concern: availability. They open on the road against Philadelphia and Dallas, and the injury list has already taken a bite out of both lines, with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton sidelined for now.
There is some good news in the recent return of several key players to practice, including Daron Payne, Marcus Mariota, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and KLavon Chaisson. Odafe Oweh is also working back from a calf injury and is expected to be close to full practice soon, which gives Washington at least some hope that the defense can get healthier before the opener. What matters next is whether that progress comes fast enough to steady a team facing one of the leagues toughest starts right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Kicking Battle Just Brought A Tough Roster Decision
The Commanders kicking competition ended with a notable shake-up in camp, as undrafted rookie Drew Stevens won the job and pushed incumbent Jake Moody off the roster. It is the sort of decision teams hope to avoid late in the summer, but Washington clearly decided the rookie had earned the chance, giving Stevens one of the 32 NFL roster spots available to kickers.
Moody has since landed on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, while Stevens is left to savor a path that once began as a preferred walk-on in college. For a young specialist, making an NFL roster is a hard climb under any circumstances, and Stevens described the moment as a chance he is grateful to have, even as the real test of his NFL future is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookies Are Forcing A Bigger Week 1 Debate Than Expected
Training camp has given Washington a clearer look at its 2023 draft class, and it has also created a real conversation about how soon some of those rookies might matter. Linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Antonio Williams, edge rusher Joshua Josephs and running back Kaytron Allen have all spent the summer trying to carve out roles, with the staff sorting through different levels of progress as preseason work continues.
What makes the evaluation interesting is that this does not look like a class destined for one simple label. Some of the rookies appear better suited to immediate contributions, while others may need more time before they fit into the regular-season plan, and those distinctions can shift quickly once the games start counting. For Washington, the Week 1 picture is still taking shape, and the rookies are pushing to make it a tougher decision than expected. [Read more 🡒]