Fans got their first look at Washington Commanders training camp on Day 3, and the day opened with a hit to the tight end room. Dan Quinn said John Bates is dealing with a strained hamstring and will miss “a couple of weeks.”
The news wasn’t all bad on the injury front, though. Treylon Burks, who sat out just one practice with a sore foot, was back on the field.
On the practice side, Jayden Daniels delivered his sharpest session of camp so far. He hit several impressive throws and teamed up with Burks for a strong third-down conversion. Even so, the defense kept winning more of the day than the offense did.
Jeremy McNichols made sure his name stayed in the conversation, too. The 30-year-old veteran has a habit of showing up whenever Washington needs him, and he did it again on Day 3.
After making the 53-man roster in 2024 when few expected it, McNichols has continued to prove his value with his production on offense, his work on special teams and his reliability in pass protection. He remains the kind of player who is hard to imagine leaving the roster for a third straight season.
Colson Yankoff also kept building his case. With Bates sidelined, there’s more room for Ben Sinnott, Yankoff and the rest of the tight end group to make noise.
Sinnott had some positive moments but also had a drop or two. Yankoff, meanwhile, keeps showing he can bring more than special teams value.
The former college running back and wide receiver has the size and athleticism to keep flashing, and he quietly made plays again on Saturday.
Washington’s new edge duo also drew attention, even without one single defining snap. Odafe Oweh has been active all week, and his blend of size, speed, athleticism and length stands out immediately.
K’Lavon Chaisson brings his own athletic traits, but he also plays with sound fundamentals and holds up against the run. Together, they’ve made life tough on the Commanders’ offensive line.
Add in Dorance Armstrong, rookie Joshua Josephs and others, and this position group starts to look like one of the more intriguing parts of camp.
At kicker, Jake Moody and undrafted rookie Drew Stevens have been going back and forth, but Moody held the edge on the numbers. In a drill that simulated a late-game field goal after a play, the field goal unit had to sprint onto the field and get set in a hurry.
Moody hit all three of his kicks, while Stevens made two and missed from 46 yards. In an earlier drill, Moody went six for six and Stevens missed once.
Moody still looks like the one who just needs to avoid mistakes, while Stevens will need perfection, especially on the routine attempts. The preseason games may end up being the real proving ground.
Another steady day for Moody, who keeps stacking them.
In Other News...
Commanders Uniform Ranking Reignites The Rebrand Debate Among Fans
The Commanders 2026 uniform rollout earlier this year was meant to add some edge to the brand, especially with the all-black Hail Raiser alternate and its spear-centered logo. Instead, it has become part of a familiar conversation around how the team presents itself, and whether the latest look is enough to settle a fan base that has spent years debating the rebrand. The alternate set is only scheduled to come out twice this season, but it is already carrying more symbolism than a typical jersey reveal.
USA TODAYs Nate Davis only added to the noise by ranking Washingtons uniforms 31st in his latest power list, a drop from 30th before. The placement is a small slide, but it lands in a season where the visual identity still feels like an open question, especially with the spear drawing attention as both a design choice and a cultural signal. For a team still trying to define what the Commanders should look like, every uniform ranking seems to invite the same larger debate right back to the surface. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face Serious Competition In The Stefon Diggs Race
Stefon Diggs has remained on the Commanders radar as Adam Peters keeps an eye on the veteran receiver market, but Washington is still operating in the space between interest and action. For a team looking to keep its passing-game options flexible, Diggs makes sense as a proven name worth following, even if nothing has moved into official territory yet.
The wrinkle is that Washington may not be chasing alone. Kansas City has also been linked to Diggs, and the Chiefs have a clear need to take a harder look at wideout help as injuries thin that room. For the Commanders, that means a player they are monitoring could turn into a real bidding contest before anyone has the chance to make the first move. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Opened A New Center Battle In Camp
Training camp just got a little more interesting for Washington along the interior of the line. The Commanders have added center Trey Hill after working out several players, giving themselves another body at a spot that suddenly needs attention because of an injury to the projected starter. Hill arrives with a little league experience behind him, having spent time with the Bengals, Packers, Bears and Titans.
The move also forced a roster shift, with cornerback Tre Hawkins getting waived to create room. For now, the new addition gives Washington another option in camp as the coaching staff sorts through the backup picture and waits to see how the center situation develops. [Read more 🡒]