The Washington Commanders got through their third padded practice of the week on Saturday, and the day came with a mix of concern and encouragement as they move toward the joint practice with the Miami Dolphins and then the first preseason game.
Head coach Dan Quinn said center Nick Allegretti and tight end John Bates will remain out for at least another week.
"I kinda give you both on Nick and John Bates are in a similar spot," Quinn said. "It'll probably be another week or so.
I'll have a better assessment as we get into Wednesday and Thursday, but likely they're getting closer, but not today. But not long term either."
That update only adds to the unease around the center spot, which was already a question before Allegretti’s timeline kept stretching. The news got even worse later Saturday, when it was revealed that left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his pec and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season.
On the field, though, a few players stood out in a useful way.
Kaytron Allen had his best day of camp so far. Early on, it had been Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and Jeremy McNichols drawing more attention, but once the pads came on this week, Allen started showing up more.
Saturday was his strongest practice yet, highlighted by several hard, eye-catching runs. He may end up with a defined role in Washington in 2026, possibly as a short-yardage back, but Saturday showed he can offer more than that.
Antonio Williams also kept building on a strong camp. The rookie receiver from Clemson has already flashed at times, but Saturday may have been his best practice yet.
His quickness off the line makes him a tough cover, and it’s part of why general manager Adam Peters thinks he can play outside as well as in the slot. Stefon Diggs summed him up well on Friday during his introductory press conference: "14 can hoop a little bit"
K'Lavon Chaisson continued to look like one of Washington’s most reliable additions up front. Odafe Oweh has probably gotten more attention because of the bigger splash plays, but Chaisson has been steady and productive throughout camp.
He holds up against the run, brings real pressure as a pass rusher and can even hold his own in coverage. On Saturday, he got to Jayden Daniels and also made a strong play on a screen.
He’s been good all camp, but Saturday felt like one of his more impactful days.
Julian Good-Jones is another name worth watching because of the unsettled center situation. With Allegretti sidelined, Good-Jones and Matt Gulbin have been getting more reps, and that matters because one of them is likely to be the backup center this season.
Good-Jones started camp slowly, but he’s been better this week, especially with pads on. Zach Selby of commanders.com noted that Good-Jones held up well against Tim Settle on Saturday, stalling a bull rush while working with the first group.
Selby also pointed out that Good-Jones is filling in at center until Allegretti returns and that teammates are excited for him because of his work ethic.
For Washington, the biggest takeaway from Saturday may be simple: the injuries are piling up, but some younger players are taking advantage of the extra snaps. Good-Jones still needs to show it in the joint practice with Miami, where the test will get a lot more serious.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Jayden Daniels Problem They Feared Most
Training camp always has a way of exposing the fragile spots on a roster, and for Washington, the most alarming one sits right in front of Jayden Daniels. The Commanders entered camp hoping to protect their young quarterback with a sturdier front, but the offensive line picture got a lot shakier when Laremy Tunsil went down in practice, turning what looked like a major upgrade into an immediate concern.
Now the question is how Washington patches together the blind side before the season starts to matter. The team has options, but none come close to replacing what Tunsil was supposed to bring, and every day this lingers only raises the stakes for Daniels and the offense around him. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Amos Just Put More Pressure On A Key Commanders Concern
Trey Amos was trying to climb back into the picture for Washingtons secondary after working through a fractured fibula, but another setback interrupted that progress during practice. The Commanders cornerback left early with an ankle injury, adding another layer of concern to a position group that cannot really afford more uncertainty as the season approaches.
The injury happened in coverage during a deep-route sequence against Terry McLaurin, a reminder of how quickly camp can turn for a defender trying to get back on schedule. Dan Quinn said the team should have a better sense of Amos return timeline in the coming days, but for now Washington is left waiting on another key health update at a spot where depth and stability already matter. [Read more 🡒]