Washington’s training camp is in the books, and the Commanders now turn the page after a summer that gave them 16 practices, two preseason games and a joint session in Baltimore to sort through what this roster really is. Tuesday’s brief workout in Ashburn barely moved the needle on its own, but it did close the door on camp and set up a much clearer look at the biggest lessons Washington took away.
One of the most notable developments this week came off the field, where the team began selling a new T-shirt line honoring Art Monk, Darrell Green and Sean Taylor. The shirts feature the retired Redskins name on the back and the logo on the front, a striking choice after years of the franchise distancing itself from both. Washington dropped the old name and logo in 2020 after complaints it was racist.
A team spokesperson told WUSA9 the move is tied to trademark protection. "It's also important that we protect our trademarks," the spokesperson said.
"We are required to maintain the marks in commercial usage so that marks remain under franchise control." The concern, according to the explanation, is that unused marks could expire and be picked up by others, including bootleggers the team could not block.
The release, though, drew a sharp response from the Association on American Indian Affairs, a Native American advocacy group headquartered in Maryland. "The Association on American Indian Affairs condemns the sale of merchandise by the Washington Commanders bearing the former racist team name and Native imagery," the group said in a statement to WUSA9. The statement ended with: "We are not your mascot."
Back on the football side, Washington’s 2026 rookie class has now gone through a full camp, two preseason games and a joint practice, giving the team a much better read on the group than it had in July. The rankings being used here are based strictly on what those rookies have shown this summer, not draft slot or long-term projection. That matters because the picture has already gotten a little wild: an undrafted free agent has claimed a starting job, multiple Day 3 picks have earned bigger roles, and Washington’s first-round pick is not sitting at the top of the list.
The offensive line remains one of the biggest pressure points, and Dan Quinn is still trying to patch the remaining holes before the roster gets trimmed. He has said repeatedly that the answer is already in the building, but the team is also leaving room for outside help. Washington could still explore a trade for a more experienced center, and after Sunday’s cuts, it could also try to add someone off waivers.
That search has already produced one move. On Tuesday, the Commanders signed DJ Humphries, according to NFL Network. Humphries played eight games for the Rams last season and brings 101 career starts across eight seasons.
Washington also moved on from offensive tackle Foster Sarell on Tuesday. Sarell, 27, had returned to the club in March for a second stint after previously being with Washington during last year’s offseason program and training camp before not making the 53-man roster. He has also spent time with the Ravens, Giants and Chargers, and his game experience has come with Los Angeles, where he has made 41 appearances and four starts over the past four seasons.
There’s also a bigger infrastructure issue looming beyond the roster. The stadium is still scheduled to open in 2030, but one major question is how Stadium-Armory Metro Station will handle the flood of people coming and going on event days.
Metro estimates as many as 38,000 people could use public transit for a major event at the 65,000-seat stadium, while the station currently handles about 14,000 customers an hour. Metro’s answer is a significant expansion that would add more room at the entrance and include extra stairs, escalators and elevators to move crowds faster.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Tackle Depth Concern Before Week 1
The Commanders have already made a quiet change to their tackle room before Week 1, moving on from Foster Sarell just months after signing him in March as a depth option. Sarell had arrived from the Chargers with limited NFL playing time and was buried low on Washingtons depth chart, but his departure still trims an already thin group at one of the most important spots on the field.
Now Washington is left with only two tackles behind Brandon Coleman and right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. on the roster, a setup that adds a little extra pressure as the season opener approaches. It is the kind of roster detail that can disappear in the shuffle of final cuts, but for a team trying to protect its quarterbacks and settle the line, the lack of experienced depth is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Big D-Line Decision To Make
Johnny Newtons torn pectoral changed the Commanders defensive front almost overnight, and it has pushed the team into a search it probably would rather not be making this early. Newton was expected to be part of the rotation, but now Washington has to weigh whether it can absorb the loss internally or whether it needs to look beyond its current room for help.
Gervon Dexter Sr. has surfaced as one name worth watching because Chicago is reportedly engaged in trade talks involving the defensive tackle, and his profile fits the kind of opening Washington suddenly has. He started every game last season and is in the final year of his rookie deal, which makes him an intriguing possibility if the Commanders decide they need a more immediate answer, though no trade involving Washington has been confirmed. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Draft Buzz Centers On A Potential Answer At WR2
The search for a reliable second receiver has lingered around Washington, and ESPNs Jordan Reid is already projecting that need into the 2027 NFL Draft. In his preseason mock, Reid has the Commanders using the No. 10 overall pick on Indiana wideout Charlie Becker, a move built around the idea that Washington could still be looking for a true complement to its top target by then.
Beckers college production and fit are the hooks here, especially for a team that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize the WR2 spot. It is only a mock, of course, and far from a finished plan, but the thought of Washington landing a possible answer at receiver gives the franchise another early storyline to watch as the draft buzz starts to build. [Read more 🡒]