Two weeks from Sunday, the Washington Commanders open their 2026 season on the road, and the first real question is simple: who gets the nod in Week 1 against the Eagles?
The Commanders begin in Philadelphia on September 13 before heading to Dallas on September 20, and this is how the projected opener lineup shakes out.
On offense, the guess here is Jayden Daniels under center, with Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the backfield. At receiver, Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are the projected starters.
The two-tight-end look features John Bates and Chig Okonkwo, while Brandon Coleman and Josh Conerly Jr. are the tackles. Sam Cosmi and Chris Paul are slotted at guard, with Nick Allegretti at center.
The special teams choices are Drew Stevens at kicker, Tress Way at punter and Tyler Ott as long snapper.
Defensively, the projection uses a 3-4 front with three interior linemen, two edge rushers and two inside linebackers. Daron Payne, Tim Settle and Javon Kinlaw are the interior pieces, while Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson are on the edge.
Dorance Armstrong is suspended for the opener. At linebacker, Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal are the starters, though Sonny Styles is expected to play often even if he does not crack the initial two.
In the secondary, Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos are listed at corner.
The only thing left is the rest of the rotation, with top reserves expected to mix in and play a lot once the game gets rolling.
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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 🡒]
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Commanders Pass Rush Now Rests On One Expensive Gamble
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Oweh arrives with a rsum that leaves room for both optimism and skepticism after mixed production in recent years, though he did finish strong with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. Washington also added KLavon Chaisson, giving the group another swing piece, and the bet now is that both newcomers can translate their potential into steady pressure when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]