The Washington Commanders are walking into 2026 with a very different kind of energy than they had a year ago. After an injury-riddled 2025 season, the team has watched the league’s perception swing hard against it, and that’s left plenty of people in the locker room with something to prove.
That’s the backdrop for ESPN’s Dan Graziano, who picked one surprise for each NFL team and landed on a sobering note for Washington: “Don't be surprised if ... quarterback Jayden Daniels struggles to regain his brilliant rookie-year form.”
Graziano made clear he wasn’t questioning Daniels as a player. He called him “an absolutely awesome player” and said that, if he stays healthy, he expects Daniels to play at a high level.
The issue, in his view, is everything around him. He pointed to a “thin and aging group of wide receivers,” uncertainty at running back, and offensive line problems that got worse when left tackle Laremy Tunsil went down with a training camp injury.
He also said his view of the Commanders changed as camp unfolded. Graziano said he had been optimistic about Washington’s chances to bounce back and contend in the NFC East, but the camp concerns made him hesitate.
The presence of first-time offensive coordinator David Blough adds another layer of uncertainty, and Graziano said there could be “significant growing pains early in the season, if not longer.” He also noted that Daniels’ 2024 rookie season was so good that Washington could still be a strong team and yet fall short of that level again.
There’s also a little more context to keep in mind. Daniels already dealt with offensive line issues in 2024, when Brandon Coleman, Andrew Wylie, Cornelius Lucas and others missed time with injuries.
So if the protection picture gets messy again, it won’t be unfamiliar territory. Graziano also pointed out that the new system asks Daniels to stay in the pocket more often, though he still knows how to use his legs when the situation calls for it.
The offense has already had to deal with injuries to Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler in 2024, even if Daniels had a steady receiver group to lean on. This time around, the Commanders are leaning on two aging veterans at wideout, but Graziano said they remain “really good at their jobs” and are helping mentor the younger players on the roster. He also noted that Washington has used a running-back-by-committee approach before.
So the warning here isn’t that Daniels can’t be great again. It’s that he may not need to be the same version of himself for the Commanders to win.
As Graziano put it, the point of Blough’s scheme is that Daniels doesn’t have to carry the whole operation. In other words, Washington’s 2026 success may not depend on a full return to his 2024 rookie form.
In Other News...
Commanders Face One Big Week 1 Problem Before Brutal Start
The early stretch of Washingtons 2026 schedule leaves little room for easing in, and the Commanders are already dealing with a familiar kind of September concern: availability. They open on the road against Philadelphia and Dallas, and the injury list has already taken a bite out of both lines, with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton sidelined for now.
There is some good news in the recent return of several key players to practice, including Daron Payne, Marcus Mariota, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and KLavon Chaisson. Odafe Oweh is also working back from a calf injury and is expected to be close to full practice soon, which gives Washington at least some hope that the defense can get healthier before the opener. What matters next is whether that progress comes fast enough to steady a team facing one of the leagues toughest starts right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Kicking Battle Just Brought A Tough Roster Decision
The Commanders kicking competition ended with a notable shake-up in camp, as undrafted rookie Drew Stevens won the job and pushed incumbent Jake Moody off the roster. It is the sort of decision teams hope to avoid late in the summer, but Washington clearly decided the rookie had earned the chance, giving Stevens one of the 32 NFL roster spots available to kickers.
Moody has since landed on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, while Stevens is left to savor a path that once began as a preferred walk-on in college. For a young specialist, making an NFL roster is a hard climb under any circumstances, and Stevens described the moment as a chance he is grateful to have, even as the real test of his NFL future is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookies Are Forcing A Bigger Week 1 Debate Than Expected
Training camp has given Washington a clearer look at its 2023 draft class, and it has also created a real conversation about how soon some of those rookies might matter. Linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Antonio Williams, edge rusher Joshua Josephs and running back Kaytron Allen have all spent the summer trying to carve out roles, with the staff sorting through different levels of progress as preseason work continues.
What makes the evaluation interesting is that this does not look like a class destined for one simple label. Some of the rookies appear better suited to immediate contributions, while others may need more time before they fit into the regular-season plan, and those distinctions can shift quickly once the games start counting. For Washington, the Week 1 picture is still taking shape, and the rookies are pushing to make it a tougher decision than expected. [Read more 🡒]