The Washington Commanders don’t have to look far for a potential answer to DeVonta Smith.
With the 2026 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles only days away, Washington faces a tough first test. The Eagles are back with most of their key pieces from 2025 and are expected to be in the hunt again, so this is a chance for the Commanders to make an early statement. A win would do more than just open the year on the right foot - it would also give them an immediate edge over a division rival.
The challenge, of course, is obvious. Philadelphia still has plenty of dangerous weapons, even after losing A.J.
Brown. Smith is now set to operate as the team’s No. 1 receiver, with Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert also in the mix.
That makes limiting Smith a major piece of the puzzle for Washington’s defense.
That’s where Amik Robertson comes in.
When Robertson faced Smith in 2025 as a member of the Detroit Lions, the cornerback completely took the receiver out of the game. Smith finished with just one catch for eight yards, the worst outing of his season. The advanced numbers make the performance look even more lopsided.
According to Next Gen Stats, Robertson lined up against Smith 15 times in that game and allowed no catches on three targets. He also stayed within one yard of Smith for 1.55 seconds per matchup, a sign of how tight the coverage really was.
That 1.55-second mark was the longest time in tight coverage in any matchup since at least 2018.
Put simply, Robertson had Smith’s number that day, and Smith never found enough separation to get anything going. It’s the kind of tape Washington should be ready to lean on if the matchup comes up again.
If the Commanders can hold Smith down, the next problem becomes the Eagles’ running game. The two teams split last season’s series, and this year’s opener will be the first chance to see how the next chapter starts.
In Other News...
Commanders Injury Report Brings Relief Before Week 1 But One Detail Matters
The first official injury report of the season gave the Commanders a noticeably healthier look than they had two weeks ago, a welcome development as Week 1 approaches. Odafe Oweh, Bill Croskey-Merritt and KLavon Chaisson were back in limited practice, while Nick Allegretti, Jordan Magee, Marcus Mariota, Charles Omenihu and Ben Sinnott were listed as full participants, a sign that the roster is moving in the right direction after an early stretch of health concerns.
Dan Quinn still had one important caveat, though, and it speaks to how early this part of the calendar remains. Everyone was out there in some form, but not everyone is working at the same intensity or for the same length of time, which means the report offers encouragement without fully answering how ready the group is for opening week. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Left Tackle Problem They Can't Ignore
The Commanders moved quickly to release D.J. Humphries shortly before their season opener, but the timing of the decision only sharpened an already uncomfortable problem up front. With Laremy Tunsil dealing with a torn triceps injury, Washington is expected to turn to third-round pick Brandon Coleman at left tackle, a spot that suddenly looks a lot less secure than it did when camp opened.
What makes the situation even more urgent is the lack of a clear answer behind Coleman. Washington has not made a corresponding roster move to replace Humphries, leaving the depth chart thin at one of the most important positions on the field. For a team trying to get through the early part of the season without its top option at left tackle, the margin for error is looking awfully small. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Still Have One Painfully Obvious Gap Heading Into Eagles Opener
The Commanders head into their 2026 opener in Philadelphia with a backfield that looks built more for sharing work than for carrying a game on its own. Washington is expected to lean on a running-back-by-committee approach, with Wild Bill, Rachaad White and rookie Kaytron Allen all in the mix as the team tries to find a rhythm before facing the defending Eagles on the road.
Even with that group in place, the position still stands out as the most obvious place for an upgrade if Washington wants more punch offensively. Saquon Barkley looms over that conversation as the kind of back who could instantly change what this offense looks like, which only sharpens the contrast between what the Commanders have now and what they may still be missing. [Read more 🡒]