The Commanders got a useful boost on Monday as they came back to Ashburn after a long weekend, with Dan Quinn sounding upbeat about the health of the group heading into Week 1 against the Eagles.
“Everybody participated today,” Quinn said when asked about linebacker Odafe Oweh. “It was a walkthrough practice, so I’ll get you an update on Wednesday, but it’s a good sign that everybody’s trending in the right direction. Full group out there today getting work in.”
That matters because Oweh has been one of the names hanging over Washington’s opener. He dealt with a calf injury late in training camp, while edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson had been working through a knee issue.
Chaisson missed some time, though he was back at practice last week. Oweh’s status had been a concern for some, but Quinn’s comments pointed in the direction of him being ready for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia.
Washington made a clear push to upgrade its defense this offseason, starting with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. The biggest free-agent addition was Oweh, the 27-year-old former Ravens first-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft.
Baltimore moved him to the Chargers last October after a slow start, and the change of scenery lit him up. He closed the season with 7.5 sacks in 12 games for Los Angeles, then added three sacks against the Patriots in January’s AFC Wild Card game.
For the most part, the Commanders expect their defensive core to be available next Sunday. Cornerback Trey Amos was put on injured reserve last week, but the rest of the projected defense is on track. Washington will also be without star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who is dealing with a torn triceps, and defensive lineman Johnny Newton, who has a torn pec, with both players also on IR.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Added Receiver Depth That Could Matter Faster Than Expected
Ahead of Week 1 preparations, the Commanders quietly added another layer to their receiver room by signing Van Jefferson Jr. to the practice squad. Jefferson had put together a strong training camp, but Washington ultimately kept Luke McCaffrey on the final 53-man roster, leaving Jefferson available for a quick return to the building if the team wanted more experience and depth at the position.
For a roster still taking shape early in the season, the move gives Washington a useful contingency if injuries hit or if the wideout rotation needs a boost. Jeffersons arrival does not change the depth chart today, but it does give the Commanders a proven option in reserve, and those kinds of additions can matter sooner than expected once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Are Playing The Long Game With A Young Defender
Washingtons preseason conversation has been shaped as much by patience as by performance, and the latest example is Trey Amos. The Commanders put the young defensive back on injured reserve as a precaution, a move that fits a roster-building approach from general manager Adam Peters that has leaned toward the long view rather than forcing a quick return before the season settles in.
Elsewhere in camp, Dan Quinn has been talking up Nick Allegretti as one of the smartest players on the roster, even with the center missing camp time, a reminder that the staff still values mental sharpness as much as availability. Around the division, the Cowboys are hearing encouraging things about their own young defenders under Christian Parker and rookie Jaishawn Barham, but in Washington the focus remains on making sure Amos is ready when the timing is right later in the year. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Runs This Team
The Commanders have set their leadership structure for the season, and it starts with Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin on offense. Daniels was named the offensive captain, while McLaurin will serve as a leader among the skill players, giving Washington a clear sense of who is expected to guide that side of the ball. On defense, Frankie Luvu earned captain honors and Jeremy Reaves was listed as a defensive leader, rounding out a group that gives the locker room a mix of young momentum and established voices.
For a team trying to define its identity under a new seasons pressure, captaincy announcements can matter as much for symbolism as for anything else. Washington is making plain which players it wants front and center when things get tense, and the blend of Daniels, McLaurin, Luvu and Reaves suggests the Commanders are leaning on both production and presence. The real question now is how that structure shows up once the games start and leadership has to be more than a label. [Read more 🡒]