The Washington Commanders aren’t getting caught up in a rough preseason finish.
That’s the message coming from general manager Adam Peters, who stayed upbeat about the roster and the coaching staff even after Washington went 1-2 in exhibition play and took a 38-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens. In a report from The Washington Times' Liam Griffin, Peters made it clear he isn’t rattled by what the team has shown so far.
“I have a ton of confidence in this team and a ton of confidence in this coaching staff. We haven't shown a lot, in terms of offensively and defensively, and there have been a lot of times when we haven't had our players, whether it’s in games or even in practice. (But we're) very confident in where we're at,” said Peters.
That confidence has a few reasons behind it. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is back healthy, and Washington has added Stefon Diggs at wide receiver, Rachaad White at running back, and Odafe Oweh at linebacker. The Commanders also have a new offensive setup under coordinator David Blough, giving the group a different look heading into the season.
Still, the injury list is not exactly light. Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is expected to miss an extended stretch because of a bicep injury, and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton is also out for an extended period with a pectoral injury.
Coach Dan Quinn, though, sounds encouraged by what he has seen from Daniels this summer. The quarterback missed most of last season after a hamstring injury limited him to seven games, but Quinn believes the work he has put in during camp will pay off.
“I love Jayden’s readiness. He took over 500 snaps in this training camp-half a season’s worth of reps. His timing with (Stefon Diggs) and Terry (McLaurin) is invaluable,” said Quinn.
Daniels finished last season with 1,262 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Washington opens the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Footage Has Commanders Fans Wondering How Good He Really Looks
Jayden Daniels is headed into the 2026 season with a very different outlook than the one that surrounded him a year ago. After an injury-plagued 2025, the Commanders say their quarterback is fully healthy, and Dan Quinn has been clear that Daniels has moved faster than expected in training camp. Even so, the team has handled his preseason workload carefully, a reminder that Washington is still balancing optimism about its franchise passer with the realities of keeping him on the field.
A recent bit of leaked practice footage has only turned up the volume around Daniels, with fans zeroing in on his snaps with center Nick Allegretti and reading plenty into his body language. For a quarterback whose availability mattered so much last season, every rep has become a talking point, and the public scrutiny has started to feel bigger than a normal camp storyline. The Commanders are trying to keep the focus on progress, but the reaction around Daniels suggests just how closely this season will be watched from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Week 1 Projection Raises One Big Question Before Eagles
The build toward Washingtons 2026 season opener against Philadelphia is already inviting the usual roster-watch chatter, and one projected starting lineup offers a decent snapshot of where the Commanders may be headed. Jayden Daniels is the obvious focal point under center, while the rest of the group is still being sorted out in the absence of an official word on the offensive formation or defensive alignment.
Dorance Armstrongs opening-game suspension is the one wrinkle that hangs over the defense and adds another layer to a matchup that will demand answers early. Until the Commanders formally settle on how they want to line up, there is room for plenty of projection, but the opener against the Eagles already feels like a revealing first test of how the roster fits together. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face A Week 1 Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Commanders are back to regular-season work, and the first week of practice has already offered a familiar mix of relief and unease. A few key players have returned from injury, including Nick Allegretti and Bill Croskey-Merritt in limited fashion, but the list of sidelined or restricted names is still long enough to keep attention fixed on the health of the roster as the opener approaches.
Assistant general manager Lance Newmark also had to address the addition of two tight ends to the practice squad, making clear it was not simply a reaction to roster size. Even with some reinforcements back on the field, Washington is still monitoring important players such as Laremy Tunsil, JerZhan Newton, Odafe Oweh and KLavon Chaisson, and the way that group progresses over the next stretch could shape how comfortable the team feels heading into Week 1. [Read more 🡒]