The Washington Commanders were back on the practice fields in Ashburn for Day 8 of training camp, with the pads back on and Kids Day bringing a different kind of energy to the morning. Make-A-Wish families were part of the scene as well, giving the day a little extra buzz around a roster still taking shape.
It’s been a busy camp already, and this one comes after Stefon Diggs made his debut yesterday and drew attention with an interesting presser. On Thursday, the media lineup shifted to Dan Quinn before practice, followed by Mike Sainristil and Treylon Burks afterward.
There’s still a limited window for fans to catch the team in person. Only five practices are scheduled to be open to all fans, and those tickets went fast. Season ticket members also have several chances to watch the Commanders work as they prepare for the new season.
This camp has a different feel for a reason. Washington is coming off a disappointing 5-12 finish, and there’s been major turnover on both the roster and the coaching staff since then. Quinn has brought in new coordinators on both sides of the ball, with David Blough now running the offense and Daronte Jones installing his scheme on defense.
On the field, the day included the first player to step out, Kids Day moments, Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr., and Dorance Armstrong and Trey Amos in pads for the first time since suffering leg injuries last year. Jayden Daniels was also part of the warmups, and the new offensive line was out there as well.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have One Veteran Tackle Option Fans Will Recognize
Laremy Tunsils torn triceps has put the Commanders in an early bind on the left side of their line, with the veteran tackle expected to miss a significant chunk of the regular season. When a team loses a player with that kind of importance, the conversation quickly turns from depth chart shuffling to the more awkward question of whether help has to come from outside the building.
John Keim floated one familiar name on a podcast as a possible fit, pointing to a veteran left tackle who is currently unsigned and has ties to Washingtons staff. For now, though, there has been no reported confirmation that the Commanders are actually pursuing him, which leaves open the possibility that they try to solve the problem internally before making any bigger move. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Defense Is Taking On Daronte Jones Identity Fast
Daronte Jones is only getting started in his first season as the Washington Commanders defensive coordinator, but the personality of his group is already coming into focus. EDGE Odafe Oweh and outside linebacker Leo Chenal have described it as an attack-style defense, the kind of approach that asks defenders to play fast, be aggressive and set the tone before an offense can settle in.
For Washington, that early identity matters because camp is where habits harden and roles start to take shape. Jones is trying to stamp his own style on a unit that will be judged not just on scheme, but on how quickly it embraces that edge and carries it into the season. The next test is whether that energy holds once the live bullets start flying and the defense has to prove the label is more than just a summer description. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Jayden Daniels Problem They Feared Most
Training camp was already giving the Commanders enough to sort through, and the latest hit lands where they can least afford it. After an offseason built around helping Jayden Daniels and stabilizing the offense, Washington suddenly has to rework the left side of its line after Laremy Tunsil went down in practice, a blow that shifts the focus from fine-tuning to damage control as the season approaches.
The timing makes the loss especially uneasy because the Commanders were counting on that spot to help protect a young quarterback and keep the offense on schedule. Now the depth chart has to be reshuffled quickly, with Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie among the names in the mix, and Washington's next move at tackle could end up shaping how much of Daniels' growth is visible early in the year. [Read more 🡒]