Two weeks into the 2026 NFL season, Washington’s pass defense still looks far too familiar.
Even with a new defensive coordinator and a handful of new pieces, the Commanders have been burned by explosive plays and receivers running free in losses to the Eagles and Cowboys. The results have looked a lot like 2025, and that’s the last thing this secondary needed.
There may be a lift coming soon, though.
Injured second-year cornerback Trey Amos recently posted a video on his Instagram account, a sign that Washington could be inching closer to getting him back. Amos, a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, appeared in 10 games as a rookie last season and made eight starts before fracturing his fibula in a Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions.
His path back has been a stop-and-start one. Amos opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list, was activated on Aug. 7, then hurt his ankle on the same leg the next day and did not practice again. The Commanders placed him on injured reserve to start the season, which keeps him out for at least the first four games.
He even traveled with the team to Dallas in Week 2, but head coach Dan Quinn hasn’t said much about when Amos might actually return. The earliest possible date is Week 5, when Washington hosts the New York Giants.
When Amos does come back, the Commanders will need to be patient. He has barely practiced since camp, and he’d be stepping into a defense that is still sorting itself out.
Washington currently has five cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson, Rasul Douglas, Fabian Moreau, and Isaac Yiadom. Douglas, Moreau and Yiadom all joined the team since July.
Sainristil has struggled badly to open the season and is currently Pro Football Focus’ 96th-ranked cornerback out of 946. Robertson, meanwhile, has played well in his first year with Washington.
Whether it’s Week 5 or later, the Commanders are clearly hoping Amos can give this secondary a much-needed boost.
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Marshawn Lynch Had A Wild Idea For Jayden Daniels' Injury Concern
Jayden Daniels elbow injury has already drawn plenty of attention around the league, and now it has a former star weighing in with a different kind of fix. Marshawn Lynch, never one to approach a football problem quietly, suggested Daniels should spend more time developing his off-hand so he can become more ambidextrous and possibly protect himself better over the long haul.
Lynch tied the idea back to his own career, saying his strength on both sides of his body helped him deliver one of his trademark stiff arms. He also broadened the conversation by mentioning Caleb Williams hamstring injury and the way players react when injuries start piling up, another reminder that Daniels health will remain a major topic for Washington as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Injury Update Leaves One Big Question For Commanders Fans
Jayden Daniels has been busy consulting multiple specialists after suffering a left elbow dislocation in Week 2, and the Commanders are still sorting through the best path forward. The good news for Washington is that surgery has been ruled out, and general manager Adam Peters said the team is not currently considering a move to injured reserve, which keeps the focus on recovery rather than a longer shutdown.
Medical personnel are now guiding the next steps as the Commanders weigh different rehabilitation options for their quarterback. It leaves the biggest question open for fans: not whether Daniels will need an operation, but how Washington will manage the recovery process and what it means for the team in the meantime. [Read more 🡒]
Marshawn Lynch Had Wild Advice For Jayden Daniels After Injury Scare
Jayden Daniels elbow scare was enough to get people around the league talking, and Marshawn Lynch offered one of the more unusual takes in the aftermath. On his podcast, Lynch suggested the Commanders quarterback should spend more time training his off-hand, arguing that building more ambidexterity could help with coordination and maybe even lessen the chance of injury down the road.
Lynch drew from his own experience when he made the point, framing it as a matter of strength and balance on both sides of the body rather than just raw talent. He also briefly touched on Caleb Williams hamstring injury and the way locker rooms tend to react when a player shows visible frustration or pain, but the Daniels discussion was the one that stood out for Washington fans still monitoring their rookie quarterbacks health. [Read more 🡒]