The Commanders’ first official injury report of 2026 brought a lot more relief than dread.
Only a couple of weeks ago, the mood around the team had turned sour fast. Nick Allegretti had come back for just one day before getting hurt again.
Bill Croskey-Merritt was pulled late in practice and then missed the following week of work. K’Lavon Chaisson couldn’t practice, Marcus Mariota sat out the final two preseason games with a knee injury, Jordan Magee was held out after hurting his shoulder in the preseason, Odafe Oweh was sidelined with a calf issue, and Ben Sinnott had just suffered an oblique injury that kept him off the field.
By Wednesday, the picture looked much better.
Oweh, Croskey-Merritt, and Chaisson were all back on the practice field, though each was listed as “limited.” Meanwhile, Allegretti, Magee, Mariota, Charles Omenihu, and Sinnott were all full participants. That’s a pretty clean bill of health compared with where this group was just a short time ago.
The wave of worry from fans and local media made sense, especially with the memory of 2025 still fresh. When injuries piled up in training camp then, the season went sideways, starters missed games, the team’s health cratered, and the record slid to 5-12.
Dan Quinn wasn’t interested in turning Wednesday into an injury drama session. He said everyone was practicing, but added that not everyone was doing so at the same level, meaning the same intensity or practice duration.
The Commanders head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles on Sunday, September 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 PM, and FOX will carry the game.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Left Tackle Problem They Can't Ignore
A week before the season opener, Washingtons offensive line picture changed in a way the team cant really afford. The release of D.J. Humphries left the Commanders without a proven backup at left tackle just as Laremy Tunsil went down with a torn triceps, pushing third-round pick Brandon Coleman into the starting role and turning one of the most important spots on the line into a thin one.
The concern now is less about the opening-day lineup than what happens if the position takes another hit. Washington has not made a corresponding move to replace Humphries, which leaves Coleman as the top answer and the depth chart looking alarmingly light behind him. For a team trying to settle its protection up front, left tackle is suddenly a problem that cant be ignored. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Be Bringing A Week 1 Edge Eagles Can't Read
A fresh start on both sides of the ball could give Washington a little early-season unpredictability when it opens against Philadelphia. David Blough and Daronte Jones are set to call their first NFL regular season games as coordinators, and that means the Eagles wont have much, if any, recent film or established tendencies to lean on when they begin their prep.
For one week, at least, that can matter. Defensive looks, sequencing, and game-plan wrinkles are tougher to anticipate when theres no track record to study, even for a veteran opponent like Philadelphia. The edge is temporary by nature, though, and once the Commanders put real tape on Bloughs and Jones approach, the mystery factor starts to fade fast. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuel Just Made Washingtons Offseason Look Risky
Deebo Samuels return to the San Francisco 49ers came late in the offseason, but he wasted no time reminding everyone why his versatility has long been such a problem for defenses. In the opener, Samuel was involved as a receiver, found the end zone and even handled kickoff returns, the kind of all-purpose workload that has made him one of the leagues most difficult players to account for.
For Washington, the timing makes the decision to move on from Samuel look a little more delicate than it did a few weeks ago. The Commanders chose not to keep him and instead are leaning on other wide receivers heading into the next stretch of games, a bet that could look perfectly reasonable if their own passing game clicks. If it doesnt, Samuels early impact in San Francisco will be a tough reminder of what Washington opted to leave on the table. [Read more 🡒]